Depression, distress, burden and social support in caregivers of active versus abstinent addicts

This study focuses on the relationships between clinical, demographic, and psychological variables, such as depression, distress, burden and social support in informal caregivers of addicts. The sample included 120 informal caregivers who answered the Beck Depression Inventory, Brief Symptom Inventory, Caregiver Reaction Assessment, and the Instrumental and Expressive Social Support Scale. Results pointed to significant associations between burden and patients' number of detoxifications, patients' arrest due to substance abuse, distress and social support. Differences in depression, distress and burden were found between caregivers of active versus abstinent addicts. Caregiver burden was predicted by the number of patients' arrests and the number of patients' detoxifications at home, as well as caregivers' social support. According to the results, caregivers of addicts would benefit from interventions that increase social support, and decrease burden, depression and distress, particularly, those who care for non-abstinent family members.