Caregiver Burden Does Not Affect Patient Survival in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Investigating Factors Contributing to Burden. (P4.125) (original) (raw)

Neurology, 2015

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors contributing to caregiver burden in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). BACKGROUND: ALS is a neurodegenerative disorder of an unknown etiology, limited treatment, with a rapidly progressive and fatal trajectory. In other neurodegenerative conditions, caregiver burden has been reported to be a consequence of physical impairment worsening alongside disease trajectory, although recent reports also implicate cognitive, behavioural and neuropsychiatric symptoms as significant factors contributing to caregiver burden. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with ALS underwent detailed neuropsychological assessment to investigate their cognitive status and behavioural profile. The patients’ primary caregivers (n=33) completed a number of measures investigating behavioural change since the onset of ALS, and the psychological impact of ALS. RESULTS: Caregivers were divided into high and low burden groups as per cutoff norms. High burden was associated with significa...

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