771 - Psychological impact of caregiving on spousal caregivers of motor-impaired patients

Objectives: In addition to its impact on patients’ quality of life, physical disabilities pose considerable challenge for the caregivers.

The goal of this study was to evaluate depressive and anxiety symptoms among spousal caregivers of motor- impaired patients.

Design: Caregivers of patients with disabling neurological diseases were recruited during the period from February to September 2022. The functional statuses of patients with disability were determined using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM).

Anxiety and depression among spousal caregivers were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD).

Results: The study included 142 wife-caregivers, with a mean age of 53,09 ± 11,73 years. The mean age of disabled patients was 58,77 ± 11,35 years. The average score of FIM was 25,64 ± 4,206. The mean duration of a caregiver's role was 5.58 years. The average number of weekly hours spent in caregiving was 35h/per week.

In our study, 59.19% of cases had high depressive symptoms (HAD > 11) with a mean HAD-D scale 10.75±4.8. Anxiety was found in 54.22% of cases (HAD≥11) with a mean HAD-A 10.61 ± 4.37. Statistical analysis showed a significant association between psychological impact of caregiving (anxiety and depression) and age of disabled persons (p< 0.01), the number of weekly hours providing care (p< 0,001) and the duration of the caregiver’s role (p< 0,001). The variables spouses’ ages and patient functional status had no significant association with anxiety or depression.

Conclusions: Being a primary caregiver of impaired person contributes to psychological distress.