A new study, published in the journal Palliative Medicine, suggests that carers for individuals with cancer have 5-7 times higher likelihood of developing mental health problems.
Researchers at the University of Manchester, Newcastle University and the University of Groningen, the Netherlands conducted a postal survey among 5271 relatives who registered a death in May 2015. Responses were received from 1504 carers. The study was funded by Dimbleby Cancer Care.
The study revealed that clinically significant psychological morbidity was substantially higher among carers of patients with terminal cancer vs general population (83% vs 15%), with a 5-7 fold higher prevalence across all age groups. The overall general health scores for carers were also lower than population scores (median 75 vs 80); however, differences were more marked at younger ages. Psychological morbidity appeared to be worse in female carers compared with their male counterparts.
Speaking about the importance of psychological support for carers, Professor Gunn Grande, the lead author of the study said: "If we can ensure that carers feel better supported, we are likely to reduce some of the more extreme stresses of caregiving, so that carers are more able to carry on their valuable work without being ‘broken’ by the experience.”
