Illness perceptions, depression and anxiety in informal carers of persons with depression: a cross-sectional survey

Autor: Josianne Scerri, George Saliba, Therese Saliba, Liberato Camilleri, Christian Scerri
Rok vydání: 2018
Předmět:
Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Informal carers
Cross-sectional study
Psychological intervention
alliedhealth
Anxiety
Common-sense model
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
Article
Psychological well-being
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
nursing
Depressed persons -- Family relationships
Surveys and Questionnaires
medicine
Humans
Mental illness -- Treatment
Depression (differential diagnoses)
Depression
030503 health policy & services
Public health
Public Health
Environmental and Occupational Health
Middle Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression
Mental
Caregivers
030220 oncology & carcinogenesis
Quality of Life
Depression
Mental -- Social aspects
Female
Perception
medicine.symptom
Illness perceptions
0305 other medical science
Psychology
Psychosocial
Quantitative
Clinical psychology
Zdroj: Quality of Life Research
ISSN: 1573-2649
0962-9343
DOI: 10.1007/s11136-018-2009-y
Popis: Purpose To examine the illness perceptions of informal carers of persons with depression, using the theoretical framework of Leventhal’s Common-Sense Model (CSM) and to determine whether these illness perceptions are predictors of anxiety and depression, as measures of psychological well-being. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 94 Maltese individuals caring for a person with depression within a community setting. The informal carers completed the modified Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQS-Relatives version) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank order correlations and ANCOVA regression models, to identify predictors of anxiety and depression respectively in the informal carers. Results The informal carers perceived depression as a cyclical condition, having negative consequences on both the patient and on themselves. Participants perceived the causes of depression to be mainly psychosocial in nature and generally viewed the treatment as effective. Caring for a person with depression was perceived as having a considerable negative emotional impact on them. Years of caring was identified as a predictor of anxiety accounting for 20.4% of the variance, and timeline chronicity beliefs, consequences (relative) and illness coherence were identified as predictors of depression, accounting for 56.8% of the variance. Conclusion Illness cognitions are significant predictors of depression, thereby suggesting that cognition-based interventions may be effective in targeting depression in these informal carers. Thus, health professionals should explore the carers’ personal understanding of the disease, their timeline beliefs and the perceived consequences of providing care, as they relate to their psychological well-being.
peer-reviewed
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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