Comprehensive assessment of caregiver burden and strain in early-stage Parkinson's disease: An exploratory study

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor and cognitive functions, reducing the quality of life (QoL) for both patients and caregivers. This study explored correlations between clinical and psychological factors in early-stage PD patients and their caregivers, focusing on disease burden and caregiver stress. Nineteen PD patients and their caregivers were assessed. For patients, we evaluated disease severity (Hoehn and Yahr), cognitive functions (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA), anxiety levels (Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, HRS-A), and quality of life (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire, PDQ-39). For caregiver, we assessed caregiver burden (Caregiver Burden Inventory, CBI), functional social support (Family Strain Questionnaire, FSQ), and anxiety level (HRS-A). Spearman's correlation analyzed relationships between patient factors and caregiver burden. Cognitive impairment (MoCA) negatively correlated with patient QoL (PDQ-Cogn; r = -0.48, p = 0.04). Caregiver anxiety (HRS-A) was positively correlated with physical (r = 0.65, p = 0.003) and emotional stress (r = 0.57, p = 0.01), and higher family stress (FSQ). Our study highlights the complex relationships between clinical and psychological factors in PD patients and their caregivers. This supports the need for integrated approaches that address the clinical management of PD and the caregivers' psychological well-being.