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KMID : 0605720100160020102
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Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Therapies in Psychiatry
2010 Volume.16 No. 2 p.102 ~ p.110
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Psychopathology and Quality of Life in Family Caregivers of Patients with Cancer
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Kim Seung-Nam
Lee Da-Won
Kim Bong-Jo
Lee Cheol-Soon
Cha Bo-Seok
Park Chul-Soo
Sohn Jin-Wook
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Abstract
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Objectives: Cancer affects the psychological health and quality of life not only of individuals with the disease, but also, it affects their family caregivers. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and quality of life in family caregivers of patients with cancer.
Materials and Methods : We enrolled 72 caregivers of patients with cancer from the Gyeongsang National University Hospital Cancer Center and obtained demographic information. The quality of life and psychopathology of caregivers was estimated using the Korean version of an abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment(WHOQOL-BREF) and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview patient health survey (MINI patient health survey).
Results: According to the MINI patient health survey, 18 caregivers(25%) had a psychiatric disorder : 15(20.8%) had depression ; 2(2.8%) generalized anxiety disorder ; 1(1.4%) panic disorder. Caregivers with a psychiatric disorder had a lower quality of life compared to those without a psychiatric disorder(n=54) in all domains of the WHOQOL-BREF{Overall QOL and general health(4.9±1.9 vs. 7.1±1.1, p=0.000), Physical health domain(10.0±0.6 vs. 14.6 ±0.4, p=0.000), Psychological domain(11.3±0.5 vs. 13.4±0.4, p=0.006), Social relationships domain(11.6±0.3 vs. 13.4±0.3, p=0.001), Environmental domain(11.5±0.5 vs. 13.1±0.3, p=0.017)}. Psychopathology scores were negatively correlated with all domains of the WHOQOL-BREF score {Overall QOL and general health (Spearman’s rho=-0.555, p=0.000), Physical health domain(Spearman’s rho=-0.642, p=0.000), Psychological domain(Spearman’s rho=-0.445, p=0.000), Social relationships domain(Spearman’s rho=-0.403, p=0.000), Environmental domain(Spearman’s rho=-0.345, p=0.003)}.
Conclusion: Our results show that the prevalence of depression in family caregivers of patients with cancer is higher than in the general population and that quality of life is lower. Therefore, healthcare professionals should pay more attention to psychological and emotional aspects of caregivers who take care of patients with cancer, and develop comprehensive management strategies both for the cancer patients and for their caregivers.
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KEYWORD
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Cancer, Caregivers, Psychopathology, Quality of life
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