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.