J Acad Consult Liaison Psychiatry. 2025 Apr 29:S2667-2960(25)00478-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaclp.2025.04.003. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Anticipatory grief (AG) is a common experience that affects caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses, particularly Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive disorders leading to social death produce a greater impact on the relationship, and thus on AG, than physical disorders.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence and severity of AG in caregivers of patients with major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer's disease (MNCD-AD) compared to hematological malignancies (HM) and to identify the characteristics associated with AG.
METHODS: A total of 132 dyads (patients and their caregivers) completed measures of anticipatory grief, caregiver burden, anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as mental status.
RESULTS: The point prevalence of significant AG was similar in the MNCD-AD (57.6%) and HM (51.5%) groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the severity of AG (respectively; 48.77 ±17.98 vs 44.18 ±15.57). However, the personal sacrifice burden was significantly higher in the MNCD-AD group (p= .043). The severity of AG of caregivers is correlated with caregiver burden (r= .735), cognitive decline (r= .575) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (R= .627) of the MNCD-AD patient.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study highlighted that the disease type can influence the AG of caregivers in a qualitative rather than a quantitative manner. Future studies are recommended to consider effects of psychological or interpersonal factors on AG. Additionally, psychiatric comorbidities among family caregivers of MNCD-AD patients should be examined.
PMID:40312012 | DOI:10.1016/j.jaclp.2025.04.003