Predictors of the psychosocial impact of being a carer of people living with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review

• Published in: Parkinsonism & related disorders Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Greenwell, Kate, Gray, William K, van Wersch, Anna, van Schaik, Paul, Walker, Richard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Caregivers - psychology; Carer burden; Carers; Databases, Bibliographic - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Mood Disorders - etiology; Mood Disorders - psychology; Neurology; Parkinson Disease - psychology; Parkinson's disease; Predictive Value of Tests; Psychosocial impact; Quality of Life; Social Support; Systematic review; Systematic review; Carers; Parkinson's disease; Carer burden; Psychosocial impact
• ISSN: 1353-8020; 1873-5126
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2014.10.013

Abstract Introduction Caring for a person with Parkinson's disease (PwP) can have a variety of negative consequences that may challenge their ability to continue their caring role. It is still unknown why some individuals adapt better than others in response to such burdens. This review is the first to synthesize and evaluate the evidence on the predictive factors of psychosocial outcomes in PwP carers. Methods Studies which identified predictors of psychosocial outcomes for unpaid carers were included. PsychINFO, EMBASE, AMED, BNI and CINAHL databases were searched, supplemented by scanning of references lists of included studies and relevant journals from 2008 onwards. Quality was assessed using the NICE methodology checklist for prognostic studies. Results Twenty-nine studies were included in the review, providing a low-level of evidence. Carer burden was investigated in 18 studies and mental health and quality of life (QoL) in seven studies each. PwP non-motor symptoms and QoL and carer depression were consistently identified as predictors for at least one psychosocial outcome. Demographics and disease factors were consistently found not to be predictors. Carer involvement and protective factors (e.g. social support, personality) demonstrated promising findings but studies were too few or factors measured inconsistently. Conclusion Confident conclusions could not be drawn regarding the most important predictors that should be targeted in psychosocial interventions due to methodological weaknesses and lack of theoretical testing across the current literature. Future research should build upon psychological theory to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms that explain how carers adapt to caregiving.