Primary Caregivers’ Psychological Status and Family Functioning

Past Studies

Past Studies identify that the family plays a crucial role in the physical, cognitive, and vocational rehabilitation of the person with traumatic brain injury. The experience of having a family member with a brain injury can have a negative effect of family functioning and satisfaction. Family members typically assume the burden of care once persons with brain injuries have been discharged from rehabilitation. The lengthy process of recovery and sudden alterations of the person with brain injury’s abilities, personality, or behavior can be very taxing to caregivers and families. Research is lacking empirically derived information on the family response to the experience of having a person with a brain injury.

This Study

This Study provided information about the experiences of 62 caregivers of outpatient persons with brain injury. The caregivers’ reactions and functioning following the brain injury of a family member was gathered using standardized quantitative measures. The Brief Symptom Inventory and Family Assessment Device were the standard assessments used. This study revealed significant caregiver distress and family dysfunction on many levels.

Approximately half of the caregivers reported elevated levels of distress. Anxiety was evidenced among one third of the caregivers. One fourth of the participants experienced depression. Additionally, participants exhibited feelings of burden and alienation. Caregivers showed greater levels of unhealthy functioning when compared to published levels of functioning for persons who were not caregivers and for persons who were caregivers for persons with other medical diagnoses. Spouses were significantly more likely to report greater unhealthy family functioning than parents. These findings are consistent with similar studies done in Europe. Further, the Brief Symptom Inventory and the Family Assessment Device were found to be effective tools of measurement.

Who May Be Affected By These Findings

Persons with brain injuries, their caregivers and families, health care professionals.

Caveats

The results suggest that the Brief Symptom Inventory could be a valuable clinical screening device for caregivers. The authors recommend that testing scale labels of the Brief Symptom Inventory be interpreted with caution since they can be misleading and even disrespectful.

Bottom Line

This study presents that nearly one half of the caregivers of persons with traumatic brain injury reported significant symptoms of psychological distress. The level of distress was greater than that of the general population and for caregivers of persons with other diagnoses. Spouses showed greater amounts of stress than parents of persons with brain injury did. The authors recommend further research analyzing assessments for caregivers and services to assist them.

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