A new way to measure partner burden in depression: Construction, validation, and sensitivity to change of the partner burden in depression questionnaire

Abstract

Depression occurs in an interpersonal dynamic and living with a depressed person can lead to a significant burden on the partner. Instruments measuring burden do not address couples and often measure caregiving for individuals with schizophrenic disorders. The partner burden in depression (PBD) questionnaire is a new instrument measuring PBD by asking individuals,(1) which symptoms they can observe in their depressed partners and (2) to which degree this burdens them.Hence, PBD combines measuring the awareness of observed depressive symptoms and the resulting burden. Additionally, it addresses aspects unique to couple relationships. Our German validation confirmed a one-factor model with 12 items. The PBD had good psychometric properties and was sensitive to change. Partner burden predicted self-reported depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) over time. PBD is short, easily applicable in research and

Feeling low and unhappy together? An actor-partner-interdependence model uncovering the linkage between different operationalizations of relationship quality and depression in different-sex couples

“…The experience of a depressive disorder in one partner can lead to a burden in the other partner, which is negatively associated with relationship quality and increases their vulnerability for depressive symptoms [ 21 ]. Factors associated with satisfied and long-lasting relationships are addressed in the vulnerability–stress–adaptation model of marital development of Karney and Bradbury [ 22 ] which combines individual and dyadic factors: Not only partner strength and vulnerabilities, but also distressing events as well as couples’ adaptive interactions and coping mechanisms are important to consider in different levels of couple functioning [ 23 , 24 ].…”