Affective and Behavioral Stress Outcomes in Alzheimer's Caregivers |
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| Authors: | Edith A. Burns Raymond Fleming David A. Wagstaff James S. Goodwin Robert Hirschman Jordan J. Greenberg |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin;University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee;The Methodology Center, Penn State University;Center on Ageing, University of Texas Medical Branch;Departrement of Phychiatry, University of Wisconsis, Milwaukee Clinical Campus |
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| Abstract: | Few investigations have looked at behavioral stress outcomes in Alzheimer's caregivers. This study documented concentration deficits to examine behavioral outcomes of stress in 33 Alzheimer's Disease (AD) caregivers and in 33 age-, sex-, and race-matched controls. As hypothesized, caregivers showed less persistence than controls in solving problems from a standard test of problem-solving ability. In addition, caregivers tended to make more errors than controls on a standard proofreading task ( p < .09). In AD caregivers, cognitive deficits (represented by lower scores on problem-solving and concentration tasks) may be representative of a broader deficit in concentration that impairs the ability of caregivers to provide for their own needs and the needs of the family member for whom they are caring. |
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