Depressive disorders in caregivers of dementia patients: A systematic review
Open accessAbstract
Although depressive symptomatology has been well studied in caregivers of patients with dementia, depressive disorders have been examined much less. We conducted a systematic literature search in major bibliographical databases (Medline, Psychinfo, Dissertation Abstracts), and included studies examining caregivers of dementia patients that reported the prevalence of major depressive disorder, according to diagnostic criteria as assessed with a standardized psychiatric diagnostic interview. Ten studies with a total of 790 caregivers were identified (sample sizes: 22-147). In only one of the studies, a representative community sample was used. A total of 176 subjects (22.3%) had a depressive disorder (prevalence range from 0.15-0.32). In the three studies reporting differential prevalence rates for men and women somewhat smaller prevalence rates were found for men than for women. In six studies caregivers were compared to a (mostly matched) control group. The relative risks of having a depressive disorder in caregivers ranged from 2.80-38.68 (all RR's were significant). In the three prospective studies relatively high incidence rates were found (0.48). This study made it clear that prevalence and incidence of depressive disorders are increased in caregivers of dementia patients. More research is clearly needed in this population.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The text we found for this paper looks like another document, so the self-check wasn’t run.
Cites
Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
(2018) · Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.5505/kpd · Cited by 13,703 · see citing works
Schulz, R., O'Brien, A. T., Bookwala, J., & Fleissner, K. (1995) · The Gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/35.6.771 · Cited by 1,765 · see citing works
Is caregiving hazardous to one’s physical health? A meta-analysis
Vitaliano, P. P., Zhang, J., & Scanlan, J. M. (2003) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.129.6.946 · Cited by 1,734 · see citing works
Review of community prevalence of depression in later life
Beekman, A. T. F., Copeland, J. R. M., & Prince, M. J. (1999) · The British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.174.4.307 · Cited by 1,139 · see citing works
Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2003) · The Journals of Gerontology: Series B · doi:10.1093/geronb/58.2.p112 · Cited by 1,108 · cited 1× · see citing works
“…in their lives, it is hardly surprising that caregivers of dementia patients often suffer from health problems (Vitaliano, Zhang & Scanlan, 2003), and especially from mental health problems, such as depressive symptomatology and anxiety (Martire & Hall, 2002; Pinquart & Soerensen, 2003).”
BackgroundSpousal caregivers of dementia victims: longitudinal changes in immunity and health.
Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Dura, J. R., Speicher, C. E., Trask, O. J., & Glaser, R. (1991) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/00006842-199107000-00001 · Cited by 994 · see citing works
Ormel, E. A. J. (1995) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e536912011-072 · Cited by 706 · see citing works
Psychiatric and Physical Morbidity Effects of Caregiving
Schulz, R., VISINTAINER, P. F., & Williamson, G. M. (1990) · Journal of Gerontology · doi:10.1093/geronj/45.5.p181 · Cited by 639 · see citing works
Churchill, R., Hunot, V., Corney, R., Knapp, M., McGuire, H., Tylee, A., & Wessely, S. (2002) · Health Technology Assessment · doi:10.3310/hta5350 · Cited by 368 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Furthermore, it is generally assumed that depressive disorders can be treated adequately in many cases, both with psychological (Churchill et al., 2001) and pharmacological (Anderson, 2001; Thase, 2003) interventions.”
BackgroundMeta-analytical studies on new antidepressants
Anderson, I. M. (2001) · British Medical Bulletin · doi:10.1093/bmb/57.1.161 · Cited by 350 · see citing works
Prevalence of Depression in Family Caregivers
Gallagher-Thompson, D. E., Rose, J., Rivera, P., Lovett, S. B., & Thompson, L. W. (1989) · The Gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/29.4.449 · Cited by 317 · see citing works
The Epidemiology of Common Late-Life Mental Disorders in the Community: Themes for the New Century
Gallo, J. J., & Lebowitz, B. D. (1999) · Psychiatric Services · doi:10.1176/ps.50.9.1158 · Cited by 248 · see citing works
Gallagher-Thompson, D., & Steffen, A. M. (1994) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.62.3.543 · Cited by 221 · see citing works
Russo, J. E., VITALIANO, P. P., Brewer, D. D., Katon, W. J., & al, E. (1995) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037//0021-843x.104.1.197 · Cited by 200 · see citing works
Anxiety and depressive disorders in adult children caring for demented parents.
Dura, J. R., Stukenberg, K. W., & Kiecolt‐Glaser, J. K. (1991) · Psychology and Aging · doi:10.1037//0882-7974.6.3.467 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
Anxiety and depressive disorders in adult children caring for demented parents.
Dura, J. R., Stukenberg, K. W., & Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (1991) · Psychology and Aging · doi:10.1037/0882-7974.6.3.467 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
Depression in Family Members Caring for a Relative With Alzheimer's Disease
Cohén, D., & Eisdorfer, C. (1988) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1988.tb05780.x · Cited by 185 · see citing works
Depression and other psychiatric morbidity in carers of elderly people living at home
Livingston, G., Manela, M., & Katona, C. (1996) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.312.7024.153 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
Caregiver depression after bereavement: Chronic stress isn't over when it's over.
Bodnar, J. C., & Kiecolt‐Glaser, J. K. (1994) · Psychology and Aging · doi:10.1037//0882-7974.9.3.372 · Cited by 165 · see citing works
Russo, J. E., VITALIANO, P. P., Brewer, D. D., et al. (1995) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/0021-843x.104.1.197 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Caregiver depression after bereavement: Chronic stress isn't over when it's over.
Bodnar, J. C., & Kiecolt‐Glaser, J. K. (1994) · Psychology and Aging · doi:10.1037/0882-7974.9.3.372 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Psychoeducational interventions for family caregivers: Preliminary efficacy data
Lovett, S. B., & Gallagher-Thompson, D. E. (1988) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7894(88)80005-4 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Chronic stress and depressive disorders in older adults.
Dura, J. R., Stukenberg, K. W., & Kiecolt‐Glaser, J. K. (1990) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037//0021-843x.99.3.284 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
New approaches to managing difficult-to-treat depressions.
Thase, M. E. (2003) · PubMed · Cited by 94 · see citing works
A follow up study of depression in the carers of dementia sufferers: Table 1
Ballard, C. G., Eastwood, C., Gahir, M., & Wilcock, G. K. (1996) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.312.7036.947 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Chronic stress and depressive disorders in older adults.
Dura, J. R., Stukenberg, K. W., & Kiecolt‐Glaser, J. K. (1990) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/0021-843x.99.3.284 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Effectiveness of antidepressants: comparative remission rates.
Thase, M. E. (2003) · PubMed · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Perleth, M. (2001) · TATuP Zeitschrift für Technikfolgenabschätzung in Theorie und Praxis · doi:10.14512/tatup.10.1.4 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
The prevalence of depression in the carers of dementia sufferers
Coope, B., Ballard, C., Saad, K., Patel, A., Bentham, P., Bannister, C., Graham, C., & Wilcock, G. (1995) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/gps.930100310 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Lowery, K., Mynt, P., Aisbett, J., Dixon, T., O'Brien, J. T., & Ballard, C. G. (2000) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/s0165-0327(99)00123-8 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Where Inner and Outer Worlds Meet
Harris, T. (2006) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203992043 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Martire, L. M., & Hall, M. H. (2002) · CNS Spectrums · doi:10.1017/s1092852900024305 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Adkins, V. K. (1999) · American Journal of Alzheimer s Disease & Other Dementias® · doi:10.1177/153331759901400501 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Family Caregiving for Older Adults
Schulz, R., Beach, S. R., Czaja, S. J., Martire, L. M., & Monin, J. K. (2020) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010419-050754 · Cited by 754 · see citing works
A meta-review of stress, coping and interventions in dementia and dementia caregiving
Gilhooly, K. J., Gilhooly, M. L. M., Sullivan, M. P., McIntyre, A., Wilson, L., Harding, E., Woodbridge, R., & Crutch, S. (2016) · BMC Geriatrics · doi:10.1186/s12877-016-0280-8 · Cited by 410 · see citing works
Cooper, C., Balamurali, T. B. S., & Livingston, G. (2007) · International Psychogeriatrics · doi:10.1017/s1041610206004297 · Cited by 410 · see citing works
Robison, J., Fortinsky, R., Kleppinger, A., Shugrue, N., & Porter, M. (2009) · The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences · doi:10.1093/geronb/gbp015 · Cited by 306 · see citing works
Impact of early onset dementia on caregivers: a review
van Vliet, D., de Vugt, M. E., Bakker, C., Koopmans, R. T. C. M., & Verhey, F. R. J. (2010) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/gps.2439 · Cited by 252 · see citing works
Losada, A., Márquez-González, M., Romero-Moreno, R., Mausbach, B. T., López, J., Fernández-Fernández, V., & Nogales-González, C. (2015) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/ccp0000028 · Cited by 255 · see citing works
Collins, R. N., & Kishita, N. (2020) · Ageing and Society · doi:10.1017/s0144686x19000527 · Cited by 244 · see citing works
Blom, M. M., Zarit, S. H., Groot Zwaaftink, R. B. M., Cuijpers, P., & Pot, A. M. (2015) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0116622 · Cited by 210 · see citing works
Self-citationHebert, R. S., Dang, Q., & Schulz, R. (2007) · The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/01.jgp.0000247160.11769.ab · Cited by 194 · see citing works
Gallagher, D., Ni Mhaolain, A., Crosby, L., Ryan, D., Lacey, L., Coen, R. F., Walsh, C., Coakley, D., Walsh, J. B., Cunningham, C., et al. (2011) · Aging & Mental Health · doi:10.1080/13607863.2011.562179 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
Joling, K. J., van Marwijk, H. W. J., Veldhuijzen, A. E., van der Horst, H. E., Scheltens, P., Smit, F., & van Hout, H. P. J. (2015) · The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2014.05.005 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Animal models of Alzheimer disease: historical pitfalls and a path forward
Cavanaugh, S. E. (2014) · ALTEX · doi:10.14573/altex.1310071 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
Moore, R. C., Chattillion, E. A., Ceglowski, J., Ho, J., von Känel, R., Mills, P. J., Ziegler, M. G., Patterson, T. L., Grant, I., & Mausbach, B. T. (2013) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2013.07.005 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Gallagher-Thompson, D., Tzuang, Y. M., Au, A., Brodaty, H., Charlesworth, G., Gupta, R., Lee, S. E., Losada, A., & Shyu, Y.-I. (2012) · Clinical Gerontologist · doi:10.1080/07317115.2012.678190 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Kishita, N., Hammond, L., Dietrich, C. M., Mioshi, E., Haapala, I., Biggs, S., & Kurrle, S. (2018) · International Psychogeriatrics · doi:10.1017/s1041610218000947 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
“Elevated symptoms of anxiety, depression, and burden in dementia carers are very common and are associated with poor quality of life (QoL) (Cuijpers, 2005; Cooper et al., 2007; Abdollahpour et al., 2015).”
BackgroundMental and physical illness in caregivers: Results from an English national survey sample
Smith, L., Onwumere, J., Craig, T., McManus, S., Bebbington, P., & Kuipers, E. (2014) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.112.125369 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Acute Care Utilization by Dementia Caregivers Within Urban Primary Care Practices
Schubert, C. C., Boustani, M., Callahan, C. M., Perkins, A. J., Hui, S., & Hendrie, H. C. (2008) · Journal of General Internal Medicine · doi:10.1007/s11606-008-0711-0 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Collins, R. N., & Kishita, N. (2019) · The Gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/gny024 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
Gender effects on components of burden and depression among dementia caregivers
Pillemer, S., Davis, J., & Tremont, G. (2018) · Aging & Mental Health · doi:10.1080/13607863.2017.1337718 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Borsje, P., Hems, M. A. P., Lucassen, P. L. B. J., Bor, H., Koopmans, R. T. C. M., & Pot, A. M. (2016) · Family Practice · doi:10.1093/fampra/cmw009 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Leisure Time Activities and Mental Health in Informal Dementia Caregivers
Schüz, B., Czerniawski, A., Davie, N., Miller, L., Quinn, M. G., King, C., Carr, A., Elliott, K. J., Robinson, A., & Scott, J. L. (2015) · Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being · doi:10.1111/aphw.12046 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Befriending carers of people with dementia: randomised controlled trial
Charlesworth, G., Shepstone, L., Wilson, E., Reynolds, S., Mugford, M., Price, D., Harvey, I., & Poland, F. (2008) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.39549.548831.ae · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Determinants of the desire to institutionalize in Alzheimer’s caregivers
Gallagher, D., Ni Mhaolain, A., Crosby, L., Ryan, D., Lacey, L., Coen, R. F., Walsh, C., Coakley, D., Walsh, J. B., Cunningham, C., et al. (2011) · American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias® · doi:10.1177/1533317511400307 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Development and validation of the experiential avoidance in caregiving questionnaire (EACQ)
Losada, A., Márquez-González, M., Romero-Moreno, R., & López, J. (2014) · Aging & Mental Health · doi:10.1080/13607863.2014.896868 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Mausbach, B. T., Patterson, T. L., & Grant, I. (2008) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2007.12.001 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Liang, X., Guo, Q., Luo, J., Li, F., Ding, D., Zhao, Q., & Hong, Z. (2016) · BMC Neurology · doi:10.1186/s12883-016-0712-2 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Oikonomou, V., Gkintoni, E., Halkiopoulos, C., & Karademas, E. C. (2024) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare12020269 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Berk, L., Warmenhoven, F., Stiekema, A. P. M., van Oorsouw, K., van Os, J., de Vugt, M., & van Boxtel, M. (2019) · Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnagi.2019.00092 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
“Caregivers have a high risk of developing a depressive disorder (Cuijpers, 2005).”
BackgroundFowler, N. R., Judge, K. S., Lucas, K., Gowan, T., Stutz, P., Shan, M., Wilhelm, L., Parry, T., & Johns, S. A. (2021) · BMC Geriatrics · doi:10.1186/s12877-021-02078-0 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Terayama, H., Sakurai, H., Namioka, N., Jaime, R., Otakeguchi, K., Fukasawa, R., Sato, T., Hirao, K., Kanetaka, H., Shimizu, S., et al. (2018) · Psychogeriatrics · doi:10.1111/psyg.12337 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Li, R., Cooper, C., Barber, J., Rapaport, P., Griffin, M., & Livingston, G. (2014) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.07.008 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Relationship of coping style to mood and anxiety disorders in dementia carers.
Li, R., Cooper, C., & Livingston, G. (2014) · Current Opinion in Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/yco.0000000000000020 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Puga, F., Wang, D., Rafford, M., Poe, A., & Pickering, C. E. Z. (2023) · Aging & Mental Health · doi:10.1080/13607863.2022.2116392 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Till Death Do Us Part: Intersecting Health and Spousal Dementia Caregiving on Caregiver Mortality
Leggett, A. N., Sonnega, A. J., & Lohman, M. C. (2020) · Journal of Aging and Health · doi:10.1177/0898264319860975 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Tan, K. P., Ang, J. K., Koh, E. B. Y., Pang, N. T. P., & Mat Saher, Z. (2023) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph20054232 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
“Dementia caregivers are also at five times higher risk of fulfilling the diagnosis of major depressive disorder than the general population [28].”
BackgroundOtero, P., Hita, I., Torres, Á. J., & Vázquez, F. L. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17124578 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Hockemeyer, N. G., Johns, S. A., Judge, K. S., Baucco, C., Gowan, T., Slaven, J. E., & Fowler, N. R. (2025) · Aging & Mental Health · doi:10.1080/13607863.2025.2453823 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“…2007; Schulz & Martire, 2004; Vitaliano et al. 2003), including symptoms of anxiety and depression (Cooper, Balamurali, & Livingston, 2007; Crespo et al. 2005; Cuijpers, 2005; Joling et al. 2015; Pinquart & Sorensen, 2007), burden (Cheng, 2017), and existential suffering (Schulz et al. 2010).”
- Authors
- Cuijpers, P.
- Affiliations
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Cuijpers, P.
- ORCID
- Cuijpers, P.
- Venue
- Aging & Mental Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2005-07
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 325-330
- ISSN
- 1360-7863 (ISSN-L)
- 1364-6915
- OpenAlex
- W2112611588
- Cited by
- 414
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 0.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- research.vu.nl
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- Aging & Mental Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Digital Academic REpository of VU University Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Nursing care and research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family Caregiving in Mental Illness
- Keywords
- depressive disorders, dementia caregivers, caregiver burden, major depressive disorder, prevalence, incidence, sex differences, relative risk
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Dementia, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Sex Factors, Incidence, Prevalence, Epidemiologic Studies, Case-Control Studies, Caregivers
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
