This study aimed to evaluate caregiver burden in individuals caring for adults with epilepsy and identify associated factors. Conducted with 107 epilepsy patients and their primary caregivers, the research used a variety of assessment tools, including the Zarit Caregiver Burden Inventory (ZBI) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), among others. Results showed that caregiver burden was influenced by several factors, including gender, marital status, income, education, and the age at which the patient’s epilepsy began. Additionally, caregiver burden was significantly correlated with the patient’s cognitive function, stigma, anxiety, depression, and quality of life
The study also found that caregiver characteristics such as age, gender, education, income, and relationship to the patient were associated with caregiver burden. Time spent caregiving was positively correlated with the burden experienced. Regression analysis revealed that caregiver and patient gender, stigma level, and the type of treatment were predictors of caregiver burden. Two-thirds of the families of patients with epilepsy reported experiencing varying degrees of caregiver burden. The study concluded that interventions aimed at reducing caregiver burden should consider both the patient’s and caregiver’s sociodemographic and psychosocial factors.
Reference: Yeni K, Tulek Z, Cavusoglu A, et al. Caregiver burden and its predictors in adult epilepsy patients. Epilepsy Behav. 2024 Apr;153:109685. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2024.109685. Epub 2024 Feb 17. PMID: 38368790.
