Carers' knowledge of dementia, their coping strategies and morbidity

The main hypothesis was that carers of dementia sufferers who have a higher level of knowledge on the subject of dementia have lower rates of physical and psychological morbidity. We also wanted to examine whether a carer's level of knowledge bears any relation to their attributional style and coping mechanisms.

Informal carers, caring for patients who fulfilled the CAMDEX criteria for mild or moderate dementia, were approached to participate in the study.

Old age psychiatry services in the West Midlands and Bristol.

Informal carers, caring for relatives with dementia.

Trained researchers administered the Geriatric Mental State Schedule, the Dementia Knowledge Questionnaire, the Pennebaker Inventory of Limbic-Languidness (an inventory of common physical symptoms) and the Carer Stress Scale.

More knowledgeable carers experienced significantly lower levels of depression but also higher rates of anxiety. Carers' level of knowledge on the subject of dementia showed no association with their physical health. More knowledgeable carers were more likely to have 'reduced expectations' of their dependants' abilities and make 'positive comparisons'; they were also more likely to feel competent and confident as carergivers.

The findings support the main hypothesis when considering carers' rates of depression but not when considering rates of anxiety or physical ill-health.