Major Depressive Disorder in Caregivers

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? Not established
Is it more common among caregivers? Depression burden generally higher than non-caregivers
Are caregivers at higher risk? Yes
How much higher is the risk? Varies strongly by caregiving situation
How often can it be missed? High; distress may be attributed to caregiving
Does it show up differently among caregivers? Somewhat
How might it look different? Exhaustion, guilt, burden, withdrawal may dominate
What commonly occurs alongside it? Anxiety; insomnia; caregiver burden
What can it be confused with? Caregiver burnout; adjustment disorder
Common screening tool PHQ-9
Separate screening tool for caregivers None for MDD
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