Depression in the Family of Patients With Dementia in Korea

作者：Jang Sung In; Bae Hong Chul; Shin Jaeyong; Jang Suk yong; Hong Seri; Han Kyu Tae; Park Eun Cheol^*

来源：American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, 2016, 31(6): 481-491.

DOI：10.1177/1533317515628048

• dementia
• caregiver
• depression
• community health survey

Introduction: Dementia is the leading cause of disability worldwide in the elderly individuals. Although prior studies have examined psychiatric symptoms in dementia caregivers, few studies have examined physician-diagnosed depression in the family caregiver of a patient with dementia.
Methods: We used data from 457 864 respondents from the Korea Community Health Survey. We used logistic regression to examine the relationship between physician-diagnosed depression and cohabitation with a patient with dementia.
Results: Cohabitation with a patient with dementia (1.2% of the Korean population) was significantly associated with physician-diagnosed depression. The significance remained in females when the data were stratified by sex. A significant association also occurred among males with low family income.
Conclusion: To reduce the burden of dementia, we need a management policy that includes the caregiver as well as the patient with dementia. In particular, political management for the vulnerable population, male caregiver in low-income family and female caregiver in high-income family, should be prepared.

• 出版日期2016-9