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. 2020 Dec;11(6):1095-1098.
doi: 10.1007/s41999-020-00413-z. Epub 2020 Oct 14.

Time of isolation, education and gender influence the psychological outcome during COVID-19 lockdown in caregivers of patients with dementia

Michele Carpinelli Mazzi  1   2 , Alessandro Iavarone  3   4 , Caterina Musella  3   5 , Marzia De Luca  3 , Dalila de Vita  3 , Stefano Branciforte  3 , Alessia Coppola  3 , Rosa Scarpa  6 , Sabina Raimondo  6 , Sara Sorrentino  3 , Flavia Lualdi  3 , Alfredo Postiglione  3   7
Affiliations

Time of isolation, education and gender influence the psychological outcome during COVID-19 lockdown in caregivers of patients with dementia

Michele Carpinelli Mazzi et al. Eur Geriatr Med. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: The study evaluated the effects of the COVID-19 emergency lockdown on the psychological outcome in caregivers (children or spouses) of patients with dementia and the loss of the welfare services in these patients.

Methods: Zung's depression and anxiety assessment scales and the Perceived Stress Scale were administered by a telephone interview or a self-compilation directly on the online platform.

Results: The sample consisted of 239 participants (men = 124; women = 115) with a mean age of 54.4 years (SD = 12.1). Education was associated with significantly lower overall anxiety and depression scores while days of isolation and female gender were associated with the higher scores. A marked reduction of health services was observed in all patients.

Conclusion: The lockdown registered a particular impact on people with dementia and their caregivers. Many people with dementia were deprived of care services and time of isolation had a significant negative effect on anxiety and depression in caregivers.

Keywords: Anxiety; COVID-19 pandemic; Depression; Stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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