Burden, anxiety and depressive symptoms in partners - course and predictors during the first two years after stroke

Partners of patients with stroke are at high risk for burden, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Previous studies have reported contradictory results and did not investigate these three courses simultaneously. In this study we comprehensively studied the courses and predictors of burden, anxiety and depressive symptoms in partners of patients with stroke during the first two years after stroke. They were analyzed as outcomes as well as predictors for each other.

Six general hospitals recruited 215 patients with stroke and their partners for a longitudinal cohort study. Mixed model analyses were performed for burden (CSI), anxiety (HADS-A) and depressive symptoms (HADS-D) as time-varying outcome variables, measured at four time points during two years after stroke.

Burden and depressive symptoms did not significantly change over time, whereas anxiety symptoms initially decreased followed by an increase. Higher burden was predicted by partners' younger age, higher education, more symptoms of anxiety and depression, and by patients' greater stroke severity, lower cognitive functioning and more symptoms of anxiety and depression. More anxiety symptoms were predicted by higher burden, more depressive symptoms, and lower self-efficacy of the partner. More depressive symptoms were predicted by older age, higher burden, more symptoms of anxiety, less proactive coping strategies of the partner, and more depressive symptoms of the patients.

Burden, anxiety and depressive symptoms are interrelated and become chronic in partners of patients with stroke. It is important to screen partners early after stroke to identify partners who are at risk for negative outcomes.