Recorded presentation

Betsy Lynn Sleath, PhD¹, Joshua M. Thorpe, MPH², Richard Landerman, PhD³, Elizabeth Clipp, PhD³, and Marti Doyle, MA³. (1) School of Pharmacy Beard Hall, University of North Carolina, CB # 7360, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7360, 919-962-0079, betsy_sleath@unc.edu, (2) Pharmaceutical Policy, UNC-Chapel Hill, Beard Hall, CB#7360, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, (3) School of Nursing TRAC Center, Duke University, DUMC Box 3339, Durham, NC 27708

The purpose of the study was to examine relationships between race and psychotropic drug use among informal caregivers with depressed symptoms who provide care for elderly relatives with progressive dementia. We also examine whether racial differences in medication use relate to racial differences on predisposing, enabling, and need factors associated with use of these agents. A national survey of 2032 African American and White female caregivers of elderly male veterans diagnosed with probable Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia was conducted. Depressive symptoms were measured using a modified version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D). Antidepressant, anti-anxiety, and sedative/hypnotic were indexed by the Veterans Affairs medication classification system. Among caregivers with depressive symptoms, 19% used antidepressants, 23% anti-anxiety agents, and 2% sedative/hypnotics. African American caregivers with depressive symptoms were significantly less likely than Whites with depressive symptoms to be using antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. Caregivers who reported higher levels of social support and more physician visits during the past six months were significantly more likely than others to be taking antidepressants. This study found that the majority (81%) of caregivers with depressive symptoms were not taking antidepressant medication and African American providers were less likely than Whites to be taking antidepressants. Results suggest that routine screening for depression among dementia caregivers may identify unmet needs for antidepressant therapy. Particular care should be taken to ensure that African-American caregivers are made aware of the potential benefits of such therapy.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe racial differences in caregiver use of psychotropic medications.
• To identify predisposing, enbaling, and need factors related to psychotropic medication use among caregivers with depressive symptoms.

Keywords: Caregivers, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation