The influence of the common psychological intervention in depression anxiety on elderly patients with chronic diseases and their caregivers

Objective To explore the influence of the common psychological intervention in depression anxiety on elderly patients with chronic diseases and their caregivers. Methods The method of random sampling was adopted, the anxiety depression self rating scale (SDS), self rating scale (SAS), Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD-24) 24 version, Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and the MOS item short from health survey (SF-36) were used. From October to December, 2014, a household survey was carried out about 50 elderly patients with chronic diseases suffering from depression anxiety and their caregivers in Shanghai Nanxiang Town, Jiading District. The patients and their caregivers have been involved in psychological intervention for 2 years and the variance analysis has been used to evaluate the changes of depression anxiety and their quality of life. Results ① Most of the patients have more than one disease, and 92% of the caregivers are spouses or children of the patients; ② For elderly patients with chronic diseases and their caregivers, SAS, SDS, HAMD-24, HAMA scale score, 1 or 2 years before intervention are declining year by year, with statistically significant difference (P<0.01). ③ For elderly patients with chronic diseases and their caregivers, SF-36 scale of eight dimensions, 1 or 2 years before intervention are increasing year by year, with statistically significant difference (P<0.01). Conclusion It shows that the coexistence of multiple chronic diseases is serious, and the family members become the main caregivers of patients. For elderly patients with chronic diseases and their caregivers, psychological intervention is necessary, which can not only alleviate anxiety depression of elderly patients with chronic diseases, but also can alleviate that of caregivers to improve the quality of life.