Korean J Biol Psychiatry.  2007 Feb;14(1):48-54.

Relationship between Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms and Patient and Caregiver Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease

• Kim SW
• Shin IS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to examine the relationship between behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia(BPSD) and patient and caregiver QOL in Alzheimer's disease(AD).
METHODS
Fifty-one AD patients and their caregivers participated. Measures about patients were Neuropsychiatric Inventory(NPI), Korean version of QOL-Alzheimer's Disease(KQOL-AD), Activities of Daily Living(ADL), Clinical Dementia Rating(CDR), and Korean version-Mini Mental State Examination(K-MMSE). Caregiver QOL was assessed with KQOL-AD and General Health Questionnaire/Quality of Life-12(GHQ/ QOL-12).
RESULTS
Patient QOL-AD on patient ratings was negatively correlated with appetite/eating change and NPI scores. Patient QOL-AD on caregiver ratings was negatively correlated with hallucinations, depression/dysphoria, and NPI scores. Caregiver QOL assessed by the GHQ/QOL-12 was negatively correlated with agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, and NPI scores and was negatively correlated with distress related to agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, and NPI scores.
CONCLUSION
BPSD of AD patients was associated with low QOL of both patients and caregivers. Thus, interventions of BPSD were needed to improve both patient and caregiver QOL.

Keyword

Alzheimer's disease; Behavioral and psychological symptoms; Quality of life; Caregiver

MeSH Terms

Alzheimer Disease*
Caregivers*
Dementia
Hallucinations
Humans
Quality of Life*