Search for: [Abstract = "Objectives\: The aim of this study was to evaluate different aspects of AD caregiver’s quality of life, burden, family relationship \(EE\) in longitudal study in relation to dementia stage. Method\: The study included 79 pairs comprising patients with AD and their respective family caregivers. The study was conducted between January 2008 and March 2010 in specialized outpatient memory clinic \(Department of Psychiatry\) in Cracow using a ICD\-10 research criteria. Sociodemographic variables were obtained and the following questionnaires were administered\: the 36\-Item Short\-Form Health Survey \(SF\-36\), the Polish Questionnaire of Caregivers Burden in Dementia \(DCBI\), Five Minute Speech Sample \(FMSS\) and Beck Depression Inventory \(BDI\). Subjects with AD were evaluated with following tests\: the Washington Clinical Dementia Rating \(CDR\) and Mini\-Mental Status Examination \(MMSE\). Neuropsychiatric Inventory \(NPI\) was used to collect information of patients’behavioral symptoms \(BPSD\). Three subgroups were selected for this study with regard to the intensity of dementia process, estimated according to the Washington Clinical Dementia Rating \(CDR\). Both patients and caregivers were assessed at 3 points over a 12\-month period\: after 2 weeks, after 6 months from first examination and after 12 months from first examination. Results\: Finally after 12 months, 63 pairs of AD patients and their caregivers were studied. It was stated that the quality of life experienced by caregivers depends significantly on the stage of disease according to CDR. It was shown that the caregivers with high EE and depression experience the lower quality of life. There was a positive correlation between the BPSD and perceived burden. The significant predictors of caregivers depression were higher NPI score and high EE. The depression was less common in caregivers of subjects with mild AD. Conclusion\: Caregivers of Alzheimer’s patient suffer a negative impact on their health\-related quality of life \(HRQoL\). The quality of life of caregivers is correlated with the severity of the Alzheimer's disease, BPSD, caregivers’ depression and EE."]

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