The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown on Caregivers of People With Dementia

Altieri, Manuela; Santangelo, Gabriella

doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2020.10.009

Cited by 173 publications

(214 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(8 reference statements)

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“…Consequently, caregivers of people with dementia also experienced an increased rate of psychological symptoms, including anxiety and depression [17,37]. In addition to neuropsychiatric disorders, a high rate of delirium episodes and falls has been reported in those with cognitive impairment [38], and these events are known to be associated with the worsening of cognitive performance [39][40][41].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The aged population is particularly prone to distress linked to the effects of the disease and the negative consequences of the social restriction rules. Social isolation and compulsory quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with an increased rate of psychiatric symptoms including stress, anxiety, insomnia, and depression in the general population [10][11][12], in families [13], and in specific overexposed categories, such as healthcare workers [14,15], students [16], and caregivers of people with dementia [17]. As expected, in patients with dementia, quarantine induced the worsening of preexisting neuropsychiatric disturbances or the rise of new psychological and behavioral symptoms, with additional distress for caregivers [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Cognition of People with Dementia

Tondo

Sarasso

Serra

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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(1) Background: To limit the COVID-19 outbreak, the Italian government implemented social restrictions that may have had psychological and cognitive repercussions on people with dementia. We aimed to analyze cognitive decline during the pandemic year in people evaluated in a memory clinic in northern Italy, the epicenter of COVID-19 spread. (2) Methods: A single-center retrospective study was carried out, including individuals with annual follow-up evaluated in three different years (2020-GROUP, 2019-GROUP, 2018-GROUP). We performed an intergroup comparison of cognitive decline over a one-year follow-up, and an intragroup comparison in the 2020-GROUP to analyze the five-year cognitive decline trajectory, as measured by the MMSE. (3) Results: The 2020-GROUP showed a significant loss of MMSE points per year in the considered follow-up period compared with the 2019-GROUP and 2018-GROUP (p = 0.021). Demographics, clinical features, and the other analyzed variables, including rate of diagnosis, therapy, and comorbidities, did not significantly differ between groups. The five-year cognitive decline trajectory confirmed a significant worsening of cognitive decline between 2019 and 2020 (p < 0.001), while the decrease in MMSE scores was not statistically significant between previous time points. (4) Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic measures have induced a significant worsening of cognitive decline in people with dementia, needing more careful assistance to minimize the adverse effects of social isolation in case of future lockdowns.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Cognition of People with Dementia

Tondo

Sarasso

Serra

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…Feeling socially and emotionally lonely is known to affect caregivers' health and wellbeing (Victor et al, in press), thereby influencing the quality of the care they can provide for their RwD. On the other hand, resilience has proved to protect against the fallout of caregiving on an individual's health and psychological wellbeing (Teahan et al, 2018), under COVID-19 lockdown as well (Altieri and Santangelo, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caring for People With Dementia Under COVID-19 Restrictions: A Pilot Study on Family Caregivers

Carbone

Palumbo

Domenico

et al. 2021

Front. Aging Neurosci.

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IntroductionThe present pilot study examined to what extent the COVID-19 lockdown affected the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in people with dementia and worsened their family caregivers’ distress. The associations between changes in the BPSD of relatives with dementia (RwD) and in their caregivers’ distress, and sense of social and emotional loneliness, and resilience were also investigated.Materials and MethodsThirty-five caregivers of RwD attending formal healthcare services before the COVID-19 lockdown volunteered for the study, and were interviewed by phone during the lockdown. Caregivers completed the NeuroPsychiatric Inventory (NPI) to assess their care recipients’ BPSD and their own distress, and two questionnaires assessing their social and emotional loneliness, and their resilience.ResultsNo clear changes emerged in either the BPSD of the RwD or the caregivers’ distress during lockdown compared with before the pandemic. Caregivers reporting more frequent and severe BPSD in their RwD before the lockdown scored higher on emotional loneliness. Those reporting more frequent and severe BPSD under lockdown, especially men and those taking care of RwD with more advanced dementia, scored higher on both social and emotional loneliness. A significant negative correlation also emerged between caregivers’ resilience and changes in their level of distress due to the lockdown, with female caregivers reporting greater resilience.DiscussionOur findings offer preliminary insight on the effects of loneliness and resilience, and on the influence of individual characteristics on the experience and consequences of informal caregiving for RwD in times of restrictions imposed by a pandemic.

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“…Insbesondere wurden Verschlechterungen in den Domänen Kommunikation, Bewegung, Stimmung und Kooperativität berichtet, was mit einer deutlichen Zunahme der Belastung der Angehörigen einherging [ 21 ]. Auch zunehmende Depressivität und Angstsymptome bei pflegenden Angehörigen während Lockdown und Quarantäne wurden beschrieben [ 22 ]. Die momentane Begrenzung ambulanter Hilfsangebote zur Entlastung der Angehörigen lässt die Versorgung von Patienten mit Demenzerkrankungen ebenfalls zu einer immensen Herausforderung werden.…”

Section: Folgen Der Covid-19-pandemie Für äLtere Patienten Mit Kognitunclassified

Folgen der COVID-19-Pandemie für Menschen mit Schizophrenie, Demenz und Abhängigkeitserkrankungen

et al. 2021

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Die COVID-19(„coronavirus disease 2019“)-Pandemie stellt die Sozial- und Gesundheitssysteme weltweit vor unerwartete Herausforderungen. Die direkten und indirekten medizinischen Folgen einer Infektion mit dem neuartigen Coronavirus bringen die Versorgungssysteme vielerorts an die Grenze ihrer Leistungsfähigkeit. Die neurotropen Effekte von COVID-19 können nicht nur neurologische, sondern auch psychische Akut- und Langzeitfolgen nach sich ziehen. Im psychiatrischen Kontext sind zusätzlich die psychischen und psychosozialen Folgen von Kontaktbeschränkungen und Lockdowns sowie die Auswirkungen täglicher medialer Berichterstattung auf Menschen mit psychischen Störungen zu berücksichtigen. In diesem Beitrag werden die Konsequenzen der COVID-19-Pandemie für Menschen mit psychischen Erkrankungen, insbesondere mit Schizophrenie, Demenz und Abhängigkeitserkrankungen, erörtert.

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The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown on Caregivers of People With Dementia

Cited by 173 publications

References 20 publications

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Cognition of People with Dementia

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Cognition of People with Dementia

Caring for People With Dementia Under COVID-19 Restrictions: A Pilot Study on Family Caregivers

Folgen der COVID-19-Pandemie für Menschen mit Schizophrenie, Demenz und Abhängigkeitserkrankungen

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