Livingston et al reported the Caregivers for Alzheimer's Disease Problems Scale (CAPS). This can help to identify a caregiver who may be in need of additional support. The authors are from University College London and University of Kent.
Subject selection: caregiver for a patient with Alzheimer's disease (AD)
Parameters:
(1) caregiver's gender
(2) caregiver's marriage status with patient
(3) children under the age of 18 present
(4) caregiver's job status
(5) living situation
(6) caregiver living with patient
(7) caregiver's relationship with patient
(8) caregiver's health
(9) patient's mood
(10) patient's neuropsychiatric status (12 symptoms - delusions, hallucinations, dysphoria, anxiety, elevated mood/mania, sleep disorder, appetite, irritability, aberrant motor behavior, aggression/agitation, apathy, disinhibition)
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
caregiver's gender |
male |
0 |
|
|
female |
1 |
|
caregiver's marriage status |
not married to patient |
0 |
|
|
married to patient |
1 |
|
children under 18 years old |
no |
0 |
|
|
yes |
1 |
|
caregiver's job status |
does not have a job |
0 |
|
|
has a job |
1 |
|
patient's living situation |
24-hour care (nursing home, etc) |
0 |
|
|
in the community |
1 |
|
caregiver living with patient |
no |
0 |
|
|
yes |
1 |
|
caregiver's relationship with patient |
excellent or good |
0 |
|
|
fair or poor |
1 |
|
caregiver's health |
does not interfere with daily life (not disabling) |
0 |
|
|
interferes with daily life (disabling) |
1 |
|
patient's mood |
not depressed |
0 |
|
|
depressed |
1 |
|
patient's neuropsychiatric status |
not significant |
0 |
|
|
significant (4 or more neuropsychiatric symptoms present) |
1 |
score for 10-item CAPS =
= SUM(points for all 10 items)
sum for 5-item CAPS =
= SUM(points for items 6 to 10)
Interpretation:
• minimum CAPS score: 0
• maximum 10-item CAPS: 10
• maximum 5-item CAPS: 5
• The higher the CAPS score the greater the caregiver's need for support.
ICD-10: ,
