Anxiety and Depression among the Caregivers of patients with Neurological illness.

ABSTRACT

Caregivers of the patients have shown to demonstrate high levels of psychological distress and depression; increased rates of physiological illness and personal, financial, family, and social problems. It is important to assess the mental health status and attend to the needs of care givers. The study was carried out in the Neurology in-patient setting in a tertiary care hospital. Thirty consecutive patients receiving in-patient care were included in the study. The anxiety and depression levels of these individuals were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Male and female caregivers differed significantly on the total HADS score as well as the Anxiety and Depression subscale scores of HADS. The female care givers had significantly higher scores on HADS-Total, HADS-Anxiety and HADS-Depression sub scales. Additionally there was a significant correlation between the number of family members with chronic illness and HADS-Anxiety sub scale scores. It is crucial to screen the care givers, especially female care giver, of the patients with neurological illness for presence of anxiety and depression. This approach will help timely identification and proper management of these individuals.