Presentation Type
Poster Presentation - Campus Access Only
Category
Social Sciences/Humanities
Abstract/Artist Statement
Background: The increase of illnesses that cause cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, will in turn increase the number of people caring for these individuals. Caregivers can experience negative outcomes in multiple aspects of their lives — such as in their physical health, emotional/psychological health, cognitive health, interpersonal relationships, and financial security — as a result of caregiving. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some individuals who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event (National Institute of Mental Health, 2019).Despite caregiver organizations campaigning for awareness of caregiver trauma, little to no research has been conducted regarding the presence of acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among dementia caregivers. The lack of existing research is surprising, as research regarding caregivers has indicated that caregivers often meet criteria for acute stress disorder and PTSD diagnoses according to the DSM-5. For example, witnessing a traumatic event — defined as death, threatened death, or serious injury — is the first criterion for acute stress disorder and PTSD. Caregivers can witness their care recipients experience a serious injury or threatened death throughout the duration of providing care. This is especially apparent for caregivers of patients with dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, in which safety is often compromised by the loss of memory and cognition, such as when a patient forgets how to swallow or walk, touches a hot stove, or wanders away and goes missing (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2018)Due to witnessing these traumatic events, caregivers can initiate further actions or behaviors that meet diagnostic criteria for acute stress disorder and PTSD, such as unwanted flashbacks, hypervigilance, and difficulty sleeping.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to survey dementia caregivers to gather prevalence rates of those suffering from acute stress disorder or PTSD. We hypothesized that there is an equal or greater prevalence of caregivers experiencing PTSD compared to the general US population, nurses, emergency medical responders, and veterans.
Methods: An online survey containing the PTSD-Civilian Checklist (PCL-C) and questions about the traumatic event were administered to familial dementia caregivers across the United States.
Results: Initial data (n = 23) revealed that 26.1% of caregivers surveyed met criteria for a PTSD diagnosis based on the scoring criteria of the PCL-C.
Conclusions: These preliminary results reveal that almost one out of four dementia caregivers might be experiencing acute stress disorder/PTSD. This prevalence rate is greater than the general US population, nurses, emergency medical responders, and veterans. These findings can greatly benefit dementia caregivers by spreading awareness and helping allocate resources to assist those struggling with acute stress disorder or PTSD. It is possible that caregivers have long suffered from acute stress disorder or PTSD, and that the lack of research in this field has left this distress to remain undetected.
Mentor Name
Stuart Hall
The Prevalence of PTSD among Dementia Caregivers
UC North Ballroom
Background: The increase of illnesses that cause cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, will in turn increase the number of people caring for these individuals. Caregivers can experience negative outcomes in multiple aspects of their lives — such as in their physical health, emotional/psychological health, cognitive health, interpersonal relationships, and financial security — as a result of caregiving. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some individuals who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event (National Institute of Mental Health, 2019).Despite caregiver organizations campaigning for awareness of caregiver trauma, little to no research has been conducted regarding the presence of acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among dementia caregivers. The lack of existing research is surprising, as research regarding caregivers has indicated that caregivers often meet criteria for acute stress disorder and PTSD diagnoses according to the DSM-5. For example, witnessing a traumatic event — defined as death, threatened death, or serious injury — is the first criterion for acute stress disorder and PTSD. Caregivers can witness their care recipients experience a serious injury or threatened death throughout the duration of providing care. This is especially apparent for caregivers of patients with dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, in which safety is often compromised by the loss of memory and cognition, such as when a patient forgets how to swallow or walk, touches a hot stove, or wanders away and goes missing (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2018)Due to witnessing these traumatic events, caregivers can initiate further actions or behaviors that meet diagnostic criteria for acute stress disorder and PTSD, such as unwanted flashbacks, hypervigilance, and difficulty sleeping.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to survey dementia caregivers to gather prevalence rates of those suffering from acute stress disorder or PTSD. We hypothesized that there is an equal or greater prevalence of caregivers experiencing PTSD compared to the general US population, nurses, emergency medical responders, and veterans.
Methods: An online survey containing the PTSD-Civilian Checklist (PCL-C) and questions about the traumatic event were administered to familial dementia caregivers across the United States.
Results: Initial data (n = 23) revealed that 26.1% of caregivers surveyed met criteria for a PTSD diagnosis based on the scoring criteria of the PCL-C.
Conclusions: These preliminary results reveal that almost one out of four dementia caregivers might be experiencing acute stress disorder/PTSD. This prevalence rate is greater than the general US population, nurses, emergency medical responders, and veterans. These findings can greatly benefit dementia caregivers by spreading awareness and helping allocate resources to assist those struggling with acute stress disorder or PTSD. It is possible that caregivers have long suffered from acute stress disorder or PTSD, and that the lack of research in this field has left this distress to remain undetected.