SOBRECARGA E FATORES ASSOCIADOS EM CUIDADORES DE JOVENS ENTRE 18 E 24 ANOS COM TRANSTORNO DE HUMOR BIPOLAR E UNIPOLAR

Abstract

Background: Caregiver burden has been associated both with the caregiver s need for support and information, and the caregiver s mental disorders. However, there are not quantitative studies in Brazil regarding caregiver burden in a community sample. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, nested in a population-based crosssectional study with youngsters, conducted in the city of Pelotas, Brazil. The caregivers (n=187) responded to the Burden Interview (BI), to the M.I.N.I. and to the CAGE, and they also answered questions regarding socioeconomic variables. Results: Caregiver burden was associated to the following variables: young person s low schooling, being the caregiver of young people with Depression Disorder and Bipolar Disorder, and caregiver s Axis I disorders. Also, there is an indication that alcohol abuse/dependence and caregiver burden are related. Limitations: Since there is no data previous to the young people diagnosis (Bipolar and Depressive Disorder), it is not possible to conclude neither that the burden is a contributing factor for the caregiver s Axis I Disorders (and the alcohol abuse) nor if these factors have lead to the caregiver burden. Conclusions: Caregivers are affected by the young people s disorder even before the diagnosis. Such impact may lead to serious impairments provoked by the burden and its correlate factors. These findings should contribute to further studies and to the creation of intervention strategies targeting the informal caregiver Keywords: Burden, Caregiver, Depression, Bipolar Disorder