Examining the Role of Agitation and Aggression in Perceived Caregiver Burden

Recent research efforts in the area of dementia have revealed that the affected patients are not the only people that are impacted by this disorder. There are hidden victims that, more often than not, go unnoticed. These people are the caregivers, often family members, of a dementia patient. More and more attention is being focused on caregiver burden because it has been found that caring for a dementia patient can lead to medical and psychological problems in the caregiver. The purpose of this study was to determine if a positive correlation exists between the caregivers perceived burden and the patient\u27s degree of agitation and aggression. Preliminary results do indicate a positive correlation between agitation and perceived caregiver burden. The results of this study will be important in helping the neuropsychologist develop appropriate intervention for the dementia patient and his/her caregiver