Continued caregiver burden: Seizure-free may not equal burden-free

While caregiver burden has been studied in various patient populations, it has not been addressed in caregivers of patients with epilepsy. This study investigated the incidence of perceived caregiver burden in caregivers of patients following surgical treatment for epilepsy, usually temporal lobectomy. The extent to which caregiver and patient variables were related to burden was explored. Data were collected on caregiver depression, caregiver coping skills, the caregiver's evaluation of the patient's functioning, demographic information, and the patient's seizure control for 34 caregiver-patient dyads. The occurrence of significant burden in this population was comparable with the literature for other populations; however, the frequency of item endorsement varied. Regression analysis suggests that depression and patient functioning, separate from seizure control, predicted caregiver burden. The use of emotion-focused coping styles predicted depression. There were no differences in the levels of burden or depression in caregivers over time. Additional research is required to evaluate whether these relationships reflect presurgical functioning or an adjustment to the postsurgical state. Aspects of patient functioning that are important in caregiver burden also need to be clarified. This research may lead to the development of intervention strategies designed to prevent or reduce caregiver burden.

Key words: Caregiver burden, Epilepsy, Depression, Coping, Seizure

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