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Cognitive impairments following a stroke: the strain on caregivers

Blake, H.; Lincoln, N.B.

Authors

Profile image of HOLLY BLAKE

HOLLY BLAKE holly.blake@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Behavioural Medicine

N.B. Lincoln



Abstract

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the relation between cognitive impairment in stroke patients and strain in their spouses.
Setting: Hospital.
Methods: Patients were assessed for cognitive impairment on tests of general mental state, language, reasoning, visuospatial ability and visual neglect. Other factors noted were level of consciousness on admission, side of stroke, weakness, functional ability, swallowing and incontinence. Carer strain was assessed 3 and 6 months later on the Caregiver Strain Index.
Results: Spearman’s correlation coefficients were calculated between cognitive measures and strain. The relationship between global cognitive deficit and carer strain was inconsistent. Language deficit was related to strain early after stroke (rs=-0.25, p=0.03) but was not significantly related to strain by 6 months (rs=-0.18, p=0.14). Reasoning, visual neglect and other patient characteristics were not significantly associated with carer strain (rs=-0.15-0.09, p>0.05; U=204-602, p>0.05).
Conclusions: Communication difficulties were associated with early carer strain. Long-term strain in spouses of stroke patients is likely to be related to characteristics other than the neuropsychological consequences of stroke.

Citation

Blake, H., & Lincoln, N. (2005). Cognitive impairments following a stroke: the strain on caregivers. In Stroke: therapy and rehabilitation (173-179)

Publication Date 2005
Deposit Date Oct 10, 2018
Pages 173-179
Book Title Stroke: therapy and rehabilitation
ISBN 185642247X
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1157377
Additional Information This book was edited by Richard White. Published: London: Quay Books, 2005.
Contract Date Jan 1, 2005