Prediction of Caregiver Psychological Distress in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose/Objective: To propose a predictive model for caregivers' psychological distress (including anxiety, depression, and cognitive overload) based on different data gathered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients (cognitive level, psychological distress, type of ALS, and sex). Research Method/Design: A cross-sectional study with a sample of 51 ALS patients and their respective main carers. Various instruments were used such as the Beck Anxiety Inventory, ALS Depression Inventory-12, and the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen, Zarit Burden Interview, Self-Rating Depression Scale, and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale for caregivers. Results: ALS type, sex, and cognition were predictive variables for caregiver distress, with the main explanatory variable being the distress of the patients themselves. Spinal ALS led to higher psychological distress in caregivers (beta = .38), as did male patients with ALS and preserved cognition. Conclusions/Implications: The proposed confirmatory model demonstrates that patients' psychological distress is the best predictor of psychological distress in their caregivers. Impact and Implications There is a direct relationship between the symptomatology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and the psychological distress of their caregivers. The type of ALS, gender, or cognitive function of ALS patients may determine the psychological distress of their caregivers. Patients' psychological distress is the best predictor of the same variable in their caregivers.