A study of predictors of anxiety and depression among stroke patient–caregivers

CONTEXT: Caregivers play an important role in supporting people with illness either acute or chronic. It is important to explore caregiver's emotional turmoil as it helps in exploring their burden which can have impact on the patient's illness and functioning apart from their own. AIMS: The current study aimed at assessing the predictors of anxiety and depression among caregivers of patients with stroke. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Seventy-five consecutive patient-caregiver dyads were recruited in the study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients and caregivers were assessed using a semi-structured proforma for the sociodemographic details. Subsequently these dyads were assessed for anxiety and depression levels using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi-square tests (for categorical variables) were used to find difference between the patients and the caregivers on different variables. Additionally Cramer's V-test and phi test were used for 2*4 contingency tables. Linear regression model was used. RESULTS: Linear regression revealed that anxiety level in caregivers was predicted by the sex of care giver. CONCLUSIONS: Caring for the patients with stroke presents increased burden to the care givers which manifests as increased rate of anxiety and depression among them. It is important to assess the care givers along with the patients for emergence of these negative affective states. One needs to be extra cautious if the patient happens to be the primary earning member of the family.