A recent study has found that anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder are common among people caring for people who have recently had a stroke.
According to a report published in the journal Neurology, nearly 30% of caregivers of patients with severe strokes experience stress and emotional problems during the first year after the patient is discharged from the hospital.
This study shows that depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are common among family members who make life-and-death decisions for a deeply ill loved one," said Lewis Morgenstern, a professor of neurology, neurosurgery and emergency medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor.
As doctors, we usually focus on the patient. It is important to recognise that caregivers can have long-term consequences due to a loved one's serious illness," he added.
The new study focuses on stroke survivors and their caregivers in Nueces County, Texas, between April 2016 and October 2020.
The study found that between 17 and 28 percent of caregivers surveyed performed well on measures of higher levels of psychological distress, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Researchers say as many as 16 percent of caregivers experience all three types of distress as they try to care for their loved ones.
PTSD is more severe among Mexican-American caregivers than among white caregivers. Among white caregivers, depression scores improved more rapidly over time.
The systems in the hospital that provide vital support to families include the medical team of **, social workers and patients," Morenster said. "The role of family-centered models of care has received a lot of attention in recent years, and this study highlights the importance of this. ”
*: University of Michigan, press release, December 19, 2023.
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