FC42: Trajectories of depressive and anxious symptomatology in Chilean family carers of people with dementia: a longitudinal study

Abstract

Objectives: Latin American longitudinal studies in family carers of people living with dementia (PLWD) are scarce. This study aimed to determine the trajectories of depressive and anxious symptomatology in Chilean family carers of PLWD over two years.

Methods: A telephone survey was conducted with 300 family caregivers of PLWD at baseline (T1) who responded to a survey about themselves, characteristics of the PLWD, and social factors. In the second wave, 208 carers participated (T2), and 155 in the third wave (T3). Latent Growth Curve and Latent Class Growth Mixture analyses were performed.

Results: Both depressive and anxious symptomatology increased significantly over time (p < 0.001). Ninety-five percent of carers, regardless of the level of depressive symptomatology at baseline, showed statistically significant trajectories of increase in depressive symptomatology (p < 0.001). In addition, 67% of carers (with low and high baseline levels) showed a significant progressive increase in anxious symptomatology (p < 0.005) and 33% remained at a moderate level of depressive symptomatology (p = 0.07). Finally, it was found that anxious symptomatology increased by 0.82 points more in women compared to men (p = 0.01).

Conclusions: The results emphasize the importance of ongoing screening for depressive and anxious symptomatology in carers over time, particularly in women. Health professionals in primary care should be capacitated to assess and offer timely and appropriate support to family carers of PLWD in order to improve their mental health. Finally, interventions for carers should be an essential part of national dementiaplans.