Use of psychotropic medications by caregivers of elderly patients with dementia: is this a sign of caregiver burden?

Abstract

This study evaluated the consumption of psychotropic medications by caregivers of elderly patients with or without dementia. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at all geriatric units in Brasília, Brazil, during a two-month period. Structured interviews were performed with 311 caregivers of people with or without dementia and they completed questionnaires. Among the caregivers, 196 (63%) were caregivers of patients with dementia and 115 (37%) were caregivers of patients without dementia. Forty-four caregivers (14.1%) were taking psychotropic drugs (benzodiazepines or antidepressants), and this usage was more frequent among caregivers of patients with dementia (p<0.01). Twenty-two caregivers of patients with dementia (11.4%) had used sleeping pills after beginning care, compared with only five (4.3%) caregivers of patients without dementia (p<0.01). In conclusion, this study found that caregivers of patients with dementia took psychotropic drugs (benzodiazepines and antidepressants) more frequently than the ones of patients without dementia.

Quality of life of caregivers of octogenarians: a study using the WHOQOL-BREF

“…Such data are corroborated by other studies, which show, in addition to more women providing care for dependent older people, a mean age similar to our findings. 13,14 With regard to QOL of caregivers, the environmental domain was correlated with the perception of daily safety. By analyzing the QOL of caregivers of elderly individuals with hearing impairments in light of the WHOQOL-BREF, a study conducted in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil, found the environment and physical domains were the most related and more closely involved with QOL of caregivers.…”

Key Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Common Dementias: Prevalence and Implications for Caregivers, Clinicians, and Health Systems

“…Dementia caregivers who experience high burden have high rates of depression (Epstein-Lubow, Davis, Miller, & Tremont, 2008), higher utilization of health services (Draper, Poulos, Cole, Poulos, & Ehrlich, 1992; Kiecolt-Glaser, Dura, Speicher, Trask, & Glaser, 1991; Schubert et al, 2008), higher use of psychotropic medications (Camargos et al, 2012; Pérodeau, Lauzon, Lévesque, & Lachance, 2001), and greater 4-year mortality than noncaregivers (Schulz & Beach, 1999). …”

Content Validation of Nursing Outcomes in Relation to Family Caregivers: Content Validation by Brazilian and Colombian Experts

“…16 Stress accruing from delivering care affects various health dimensions of caregivers, including self-perception of health 17 and the use of medica-tion. 18 One study shows that caregivers experience an increase in negative symptoms by one third after assuming the responsibility of providing care. Additionally, spouse caregivers also report an increase in infectious diseases, especially those in the upper respiratory tract.…”