Anxiety and Depression Associated With Burden in Caregivers of Patients With Brain Metastases.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe and examine the relationship between caregiver burden and the affective disorders anxiety and depression in caregivers of patients with brain metastases.
. DESIGN Cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational.
. SETTING Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego. 
. SAMPLE 56 family caregivers of patients with brain metastases from solid tumors at other primary sites.
. METHODS Self-administered survey.
. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Caregiver burden, anxiety, and depression.
. FINDINGS With the exception of caregiver esteem, no statistically significant relationships were noted between impact on schedule, a dimension of caregiver burden, and screening positive for affective disorders.
. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this study support previous reports indicating that the odds of having anxiety and depressive symptoms are greater in family caregivers who report higher levels of caregiver burden.
. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING The identification and management of caregiver burden are important considerations for a comprehensive cancer care program. Addressing the needs of the cancer caregiver, who is at heightened risk for various psychological, physical, financial, and social problems, is increasingly vital.