Frontotemporal Dementia: The Impact of Patient Behavioral Symptoms on the Physical and Mental Health of Family Caregivers

BACKGROUND: Providing informal support to someone with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) could be very stressful. Clarifying the relationship between patient behavioral problems and caregiver health could spur future research on effective symptom management strategies. METHODS: Sixty-one FTD family caregivers participated in a postal survey. RESULTS: Patient symptom severity was negatively associated with caregiver mental health (r = −0.26, p < 0.05) but not significantly associated with caregiver physical health. In a regression analysis, caregiver emotional distress from patient behaviors made a statistically significant contribution to caregiver mental health, explaining approximately 10% of its variance. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the importance of focusing on FTD caregivers’ perceived emotional distress from patient behavioral problems and ensuring they are getting the appropriate support they need.