Is abusive behaviour a consequence of carer distress?

在以前的研究中，四分之一的老年人照顾者愿意报告将被定义为虐待的行为，尽管他们可能没有意识到他们的行为可以从这个角度来看。在涉及痴呆症的病例中，这一数字翻了一番。初步研究表明，这些照顾者最焦虑和抑郁。我的试点研究发现，如果照顾有更多行为问题的人，痴呆症患者的家庭照顾者负担更重。更大的负担与无益的应对策略，焦虑和抑郁有关。我的研究旨在确定那些患有痴呆症的焦虑或抑郁的家庭照顾者是否更有可能报告对照顾者的虐待行为，以及照顾者的负担，应对策略和照顾者的神经精神症状如何影响这一点。第二，我将确定一年后是否有更多经历虐待行为的照顾者被机构化。与220个这样的照顾者的人转介到精神科服务的访谈将包括这些因素的定量措施。在研究过程中，我们咨询了当地和全国的护理人员，特别是因为这个话题的痛苦性质。更多地了解与潜在的虐待行为相关的风险，将有助于制定早期预防干预措施，以帮助照顾者和被照顾者。

In previous research, a quarter of caregivers of older people were willing to report actions that would be defined as abusive, although they may be unaware their behaviours could be seen in this light. This number is doubled in cases involving dementia. Preliminary studies suggest these caregivers are the most anxious and depressed. My pilot study found family caregivers of people with dementia were more burdened if caring for people with more behavioural problems. Greater burden was associated with unhelpful coping strategies, anxiety and depression. My study aims to determine whether anxious or depressed family caregivers of those with dementia are more likely to report abusive behaviour towards care recipients, and how caregiver burden, coping strategies and care recipient neuropsychiatric symptoms influence this. Secondly I will determine whether more care recipients experiencing abusive behaviours are institutionalised a year later. Interviews with 220 such caregivers of people referred to psychiatric services will include quantitative measures of these factors. We have consulted carers locally and nationally during the study development, particularly because of the distressing nature of the topic. Knowing more about risks associated with potentially abusive caregiver behaviour will enable development of early preventative interventions to help caregivers and care recipients.