The psychological impact of the disclosure of the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease on informal caregivers.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Receiving an Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis can be a distressing experience, for both the individual with the condition and the family. This cross-sectional study explored whether the disclosure of AD diagnosis generated post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) in caregivers and how this affected their psychological well-being.

Methods

Seventy-nine caregivers completed the Impact of Event Scale to assess any PTSSs related to the memory of AD disclosure and clinical scales to assess current psychological distress.

Results

After a mean of 3 years, 46% of caregivers showed moderate-to-severe PTSS (mean ± SD = 35.4 ± 6.8) related to the memory of AD disclosure. Compared to caregivers with subclinical/mild PTSSs, they reported significantly higher levels of

SUBMITTER: Singh Solorzano C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12411668 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature