Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Caregivers’ of Patients with Stroke

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Caregivers of stroke patients may be at risk of psychological problems. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among caregivers of patients with stroke.

Methods: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study. One hundred and twenty two caregivers of stroke patients who referred to Payambar Aazam Hospital in Bandar Abbas participated in this study. Convenience sampling was used. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) were used for data collection. The data were analyzed using Chi-square and ANOVA tests.

Results: Sixty eight percent of stroke patients’ caregivers suffered from mild to extremely severe depression. Approximately, two-third and half of the stroke patients’ caregivers experienced mild to extremely severe anxiety and stress, respectively. The results of the study showed that there was a significant statistical relationship between depression level and caregivers’ gender (c²=11.15, p=0.01) and caregivers’ age (F=3.30, p=0.02). In addition, an association was observed between the caregivers’ level of anxiety and the patients’ gender (c²=12.04, p=0.007) and age (F=5.93, p=0.001).

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that there was a high percentage of depression and anxiety among the caregivers of stroke patients. In addition, half of the caregivers experienced stress. Since, male and younger caregivers experienced more depression, attention to this group is crucial. Moreover, the intensity of anxiety was higher in younger caregivers and those who were caring for male patients, so making interventions for this group is recommended.

Keywords: Caregivers, stroke, depression, anxiety