Abstract：
The purpose of the study was to investigate behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) prevalence, severity, and distress experienced by caregivers of people living with dementia (PLWD). A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted in a rural area in southwestern Uganda. A Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) was used to determine the presence of BPSD as perceived by caregivers of PLWD. We carried out both descriptive and inferential data analysis. A total of 175 caregivers of PLWD were enrolled in this study. Among PLWD, 99% had presented BPSD in the past month. Hallucinations (75%) and dysphoria/depression (81%) were the two BPSD that occurred most frequently. Most participants (70%) stated that PLWD experienced hallucinations of significant severity. Aberrant motor activity was reported by 60% of the participants as the type of BPSD that caused severe distress. There was a high positive correlation (0.82) between the total severity score and total distress scores. Interventions aimed at addressing dysphoria and hallucinations may be essential for the reduction of caregiver distress. These findings point to the need for promoting early screening for BPSDs and the provision of support to caregivers.
摘要：
该研究的目的是调查行为和心理症状（BPSD）的患病率，严重程度,和痴呆症患者（PLWD）的护理人员所经历的痛苦。横截面，在乌干达西南部的一个农村地区进行了基于人群的研究.神经精神量表（NPI-Q）用于确定PLWD护理人员所感知的BPSD的存在。我们进行了描述性和推断性数据分析。本研究共招募了175名PLWD护理人员。在PLWD中，99％的人在过去一个月中提出了BPSD。幻觉（75％）和烦躁不安/抑郁（81％）是最常见的两种BPSD。大多数参与者（70％）表示PLWD经历了严重程度的幻觉。据60％的参与者报告，异常的运动活动是引起严重困扰的BPSD类型。总严重程度评分和总痛苦评分之间存在高度正相关（0.82）。旨在解决烦躁不安和幻觉的干预措施对于减少护理人员的困扰至关重要。这些发现表明有必要促进早期筛查BPSD并为护理人员提供支持。
