Salud mental en cuidadores primarios de pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer

Abstract

Introduction. Alzheimer's disease is a chronic degenerative disease characterized by loss of independence in which older adults need caregiving most of the time. This care is provided by people who do not get paid for their work because most of them are family members; thus, the mental health of those who care for long hours is affected, considering that they are diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and stress. Objective. To analyze the mental health of primary caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Specific objectives: To determine the caregiver's psychological well-being, identify their quality of life, and understand the levels of burnout worker syndrome, anxiety, and depression. Methodology. The research was of narrative type through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method, with descriptive scope. Results. The research showed a series of results which indicate that primary caregivers have their mental health quite affected; symptoms of anxiety, depression, and Burnout were observed. Thus, it was reflected that primary caregivers cannot have adequate psychological well-being. Conclusions. The quality of life and stress of primary caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease could be significantly affected by the high demand in terms of caregiving activities e.g., symptoms of anxiety or depression, which are two major diseases that impair their mental health, gradually begin to appear.