Evidence-Based Mental Health Services for Distressed Post-9/11 Military Family Caregivers
Abstract
Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is considered the "signature injury" of recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, with about one out of every five returning troops experiencing a TBI. After receiving hospital and rehabilitation services, Veterans with TBI are usually cared for at home by family members. The typical family caregiver of Veterans with TBI are female (79%), a parent (62%) or a spouse (32%), and most of these family caregivers receive little or no help with their caregiving responsibilities. Not only is TBI a risk factor for Alzheimer s disease (AD) later in life, there are similarities between the experiences of family caregivers of Veterans with TBI and caregivers of civilians with AD. Symptoms of TBI are very similar to AD and include cognitive impairment (problems with memory, language, paying attention, and/or planning things), difficulty communicating, impulsive or random behaviors, and no control over emotions such as sadness or anger. Both AD and TBI require adjusting to emotional and behavioral changes in the injured family member, and personality changes can lead to relationship problems between the injured person and his or her family caregiver. Just like AD, symptoms of TBI do not get better over time, are seen as a burden to cope with, and lead to depression and a poor quality of life. Also, both AD and TBI family caregivers report burden because they have to constantly watch for random or unpredictable behaviors when living with the impaired or injured family member for an extended period of time. Objective: This study will help us understand if teaching military family caregivers problem-solving training improves their burden levels and improves the mental health and quality of life. PST is a coping mechanism or a way to deal with stress. Problem-solving training is based on the idea that a person s ability to solve real-life problems can impact their mental health. Caregiving burden and depression may get better when a family caregiver is able to solve everyday problems that come up when living with a loved one with TBI. Building on our work with caregivers of civilians with mild cognitive impairment (problems with memory, language, paying attention, and/or planning things) and early-stage or mild AD, we expect that family caregivers of Veterans with TBI that receive problem-solving training will report less caregiving burden, less depression, and improved quality of life for up to 1 year after problem-solving training, when the results are compared to family caregivers of Veterans with TBI that did not receive the problem-solving training. Specific Aims: The main purpose of the study is to see if problem-solving training helps family caregivers of Veterans with TBI burden and depression levels, eventually improving their quality of life. We will also collect information to describe physical strain and social pressures for these caregivers such as illness that limits the caregiver s activities, new household management and caregiving responsibilities, satisfaction with social roles and activities, restrictions on one s lifestyle, the quality of the marriage (if the caregiver is married to the Veteran with TBI), how much he/she feels friends and family are there to support the caregiver, and information about the caregiver s age, gender, race, educational level, and income level. Another purpose of this study is to see if things like the caregiver s age, gender, or relationship to the Veteran with TBI influence the effects of problem-solving training sessions when it comes to burden and mental health outcomes in these caregivers. Study Design: We expect that 100 family caregivers of Veterans with TBI from the Joint Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (the disarming and disposal of bombs) Warrior Foundation and Boulder Crest Retreat for Wounded Warriors family caregiver websites will agree to participate in this study and teach us about their caregiving experiences.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 31, 2017
- Source ID
- W81XWH1610690
Entities
People
- Linda Garand
Organizations
- Duquesne University
- United States Army