Aarsland et al. (1999) [29] Norway | To determine the emotional and social distress of caring for a person with PD and to explore the impact of motor and mental symptoms of PD on caregivers’ situation
“Distress and social upset experienced by the relative as a result of having to care for an elderly person with physical and/or behavioural disability” (p. 867) | 58 caregivers (Spouses)
| Stepwise multiple linear regression
Yes | Patient mental symptoms were the most powerful predictors of caregiver stress in PD spouses. Patient functional impairment also contributed to the model whereas severity of motor symptoms and disease stage did not |
Mc Rae et al. (1999) [11] USA
| To investigate sources of distress in PD caregivers and the relationships between demographic characteristics, stress and family functioning
No definition | 50 caregivers (Not reported)
| Multivariate analysis of variance
Yes | Aspects of caregiving related to caregiver’s personal concerns and anxiety were reported to be the most distressing |
Carter et al. (1998) [27] USA | To examine the experience of spouses who provide care for patients with PD and to determine whether their experiences differed by stage of disease
No definition | 380 caregivers (Spouses)
| Analysis of variance
Yes
| Caregiver strain is experienced across all stages of PD and increases significantly in line with the progression of the disease |
Calderet al. (1991) [64] United Kingdom | To determine the characteristics of PD patients that are associated with stress for their relatives
No definition | 65 caregivers (62 spouses, 2 daughters, 1 daughter in law) | Stepwise regression analyses Analysis of Covariance
No | Patient’s behavioural disturbances contributed most to the variation in level of stress, followed by male sex in patient, patient’s self-care and young age. Patient’s functional disability predicted relative’s stress independently ofpatient cognitive impairment or dementia |