Burnout in Alzheimer's disease caregivers

Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregivers are a group particularly susceptible to Burnout. They are exposed to high levels of burden of care, a few receive adequate training to deal with the partient and the majority receive little feedback from both patient an d society. Furthermore, high levels of poor health, limitation in social life and a lack of a positive outlook on the caregiving situation are strong predictors to Burnout in this group. There is a paucity of transcultural studies regarding Burnout i n AD caregivers. Burnout evaluation in AD caregivers permits not only the examination of the emotional stress suffered by this group, as it has been largely described in the literature, but also the interrelational aspects of caregiving and the caregivers self-appraisal of care. This is an area that warrants more information that may lead to practical measures to deliver proper services both to patients and caregivers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate Burnout prevalence in AD caregivers, and t he sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of AD patients (cognitive decline, functional decline and behavioural symptoms) and their caregivers (anxiety and depression) of the Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders of the Federal Unive rsity of Rio de Janeiro (CDA/UFRJ). We also aim at analyzing the relationships among Burnout, including each dimension individually, with the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of AD patients and caregivers. This is a cross-sectional stud y. We will evaluate informal caregivers of AD patients who are under current treatment at the CDA/UFRJ. Approval for the study was granted by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and all the participants signed the in formed consent forms prior to any procedure.