Caregiver burden and emotional problems in partners of stroke patients at two months and one year post-stroke: Determinants and prediction

Objectives (a) To determine levels of and factors explaining partners’ burden, anxiety and depressive symptoms at two months post-stroke, (b) to predict partners’ burden, anxiety and depressive symptoms at one year post-stroke based on patient and partner characteristics available at two months post-stroke. Methods Prospective cohort study. Partners of stroke patients (N = 183) were included. Main outcome measures were the Caregiver Strain Index and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results Many partners experienced high burden, anxiety and depressive symptoms. At two months post-stroke, these outcomes were associated with the partner variables: age, relationship satisfaction, pro-active coping, self-efficacy, everyday social support, burden, anxiety and depressive symptoms; and the patient variables: stroke severity and depressive symptoms. Partner outcomes at one year post-stroke were mainly predicted by the level of these outcomes at two months post-stroke. Conclusions Partner outcomes at two months post-stroke predict to a large degree partner outcomes at one year post-stroke. Practice implications Measuring partners’ burden and anxiety and depressive symptoms in the post-acute phase is recommended to trace partners at risk of long-term burden and emotional problems.