Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on neuropsychiatric symptoms of patients with dementia and the mental health of their caregivers

ABSTRACT

Objective This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the public-health measures aiming to reduce the spread of COVID-19 (i.e restrictions, social distancing, self-isolation) on neuropsychiatric symptoms of patients with different forms of dementia and the mental health of their caregivers in Germany. Method An online-survey was conducted for caregivers of people with dementia to assess the impact of COVID-19 and COVID-19 related measures on both the caregivers and dementia patients via self-reports by the caregiver. Results 78 caregivers participated in the study. Following the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, worsened neuropsychiatric symptoms such as apathy, depression, anxiety, and agitation were regularly reported. Not living with the caregiver was associated with a worsening of depressive symptoms in patients. A better understanding of the situation by the patient was instead related to low risk for depressive aggravation. Many of the caregivers (51.3 %) themselves also experienced worsened mental health. Perceived loneliness and worries regarding the future associated with the pandemic were related to deterioration in mental health. Conclusions Future health-strategies should be informed by the needs of both patients with dementia and their caregivers to prevent the worsening of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients and in mental health of their caregivers. One-to-one support, as a way of example, is considered beneficial by the majority of caregivers and could be a useful tool to attenuate these harmful effects. © 2021 Georg Thieme Verlag. All rights reserved.