Comprehensive assessment of caregiver burden and strain in early-stage Parkinson's disease

An exploratory study

Bibliographic Data

ID4229377
AuthorsMaria Grazia Maggio (0000-0003-0757-2389, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Italy), Laura Culicetto (0000-0001-9619-3983, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Italy), Lilla Bonanno (0000-0002-0282-405X, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Italy), Rosaria De Luca (0000-0001-9503-4366, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Italy), Francesco Corallo (0000-0003-4862-3832, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Italy), Anna Rizzo (0000-0002-6229-6463, University of Messina), Amelia Rizzo, Silvia Marino (0000-0002-9612-2883, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Italy), Angelo Quartarone (0000-0003-1485-6590, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Italy), Antonina Luca (0000-0002-8397-3478, Università degli Studi di Enna Kore), Alessandra Nicoletti (0000-0001-6757-340X, University of Catania), Rocco Salvatore Calabrò (0000-0002-8566-3166, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Italy)
Year2025
Volume30
Issue11
Pages3169-3181
Publication date2025-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Health Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1359-1053 • E-ISSN: 1461-7277
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/13591053241312505
PMID39849863
OpenAlexW4406780728
LanguageEN
References cited54

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor and cognitive functions, reducing the quality of life (QoL) for both patients and caregivers. This study explored correlations between clinical and psychological factors in early-stage PD patients and their caregivers, focusing on disease burden and caregiver stress. Nineteen PD patients and their caregivers were assessed. For patients, we evaluated disease severity (Hoehn and Yahr), cognitive functions (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA), anxiety levels (Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, HRS-A), and quality of life (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire, PDQ-39). For caregiver, we assessed caregiver burden (Caregiver Burden Inventory, CBI), functional social support (Family Strain Questionnaire, FSQ), and anxiety level (HRS-A). Spearman's correlation analyzed relationships between patient factors and caregiver burden. Cognitive impairment (MoCA) negatively correlated with patient QoL (PDQ-Cogn; r = −0.48, p = 0.04). Caregiver anxiety (HRS-A) was positively correlated with physical ( r = 0.65, p = 0.003) and emotional stress ( r = 0.57, p = 0.01), and higher family stress (FSQ). Our study highlights the complex relationships between clinical and psychological factors in PD patients and their caregivers. This supports the need for integrated approaches that address the clinical management of PD and the caregivers' psychological well-being

Anxiety · Caregiver burden · Caregiver stress · Cognition · Cognitive impairment · Dementia · Developmental psychology · Disease · Family caregivers · Montreal Cognitive Assessment · Parkinson's disease · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Quality of life (healthcare · Rating scale · Social support · Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research · Medicine · Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments · Psychology · Restless Legs Syndrome Research · Clinical Psychology · Gerontology · Internal Medicine

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