Authors: Anne Maria MöllerLeimkühler Michael Obermeier
Publish Date: 2008/06/20
Volume: 258, Issue: 7, Pages: 406-
Abstract
A cohort of 60 key relatives was assessed based on a transactional stress model concerning objective and subjective burden wellbeing selfrated symptoms and global satisfaction with life The stressors were defined as patients’ illness variables and the potential predictors included different dispositions and resources of the relatives Effects were analyzed by regression models In a first step the main predictors of burden were identified at each assessment In a second step the resulting predictors were included in a Generalized Linear Modeling procedureCaregivers’ burden improved significantly but wellbeing and selfrated symptoms remained elevated In the final regression model expressed emotion neuroticism generalized negative stress response and life stressors resulted as the best predictors of burden The effects were rather time invariant than time dependentPart of the research project was supported by the German Ministry of Education and Research in the context of the German Research Networks on Schizophrenia and Depression/Suicidality The author thanks the involved psychiatrists for placing the clinical ratings of the patients at the author’s disposal
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