Agitation is a common neuropsychiatric symptom within the dementia spectrum, experienced by 70 percent of individuals with cognitive decline. Prior literature demonstrates a strong association between care recipient agitation and burden in caregivers of individuals with dementia, as these symptoms are often difficult to manage and predict. Understanding how agitation symptoms in the person with dementia may influence caregiver burden is imperative given these strong associations; however, both agitation and burden are complex, multidimensional constructs. Agitation in dementia involves a range of behaviors including increased motor activity, emotional distress, and aggressive behaviors. Caregiver burden is also multi-faceted and often incorporates dimensions of social/relationship, emotional, and physical health strain. The current study sought to determine whether specific presentations of agitation differentially relate to distinct patterns of caregiver burden.

Medical record data from an outpatient memory clinic were extracted for 609 persons with dementia and their caregivers. Caregivers completed the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) to assess caregiver burden and the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) to assess care recipient agitation behaviors. At their initial outpatient appointment, care recipients were also administered a measure of global cognitive functioning (either the Montreal Cognitive Assessment or the Mini-Mental State Examination). Demographic information was extracted from medical records. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine ZBI and CMAI factor structures. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses then examined whether factors of the CMAI differentially predicted ZBI factors, controlling for dementia severity and demographic variables.

Exploratory factor analysis yielded three domains of agitation on the CMAI ("Physically Aggressive," "Physically NonAggressive," "Verbally Agitated") and four domains of burden on the ZBI ("Impact on Life," "Guilt/Uncertainty," "Embarrassed/Frustrated," and "Overwhelm"). Regression analyses demonstrated all domains of agitation positively predicted overall burden. Regarding specific aspects of burden, Physically Aggressive behaviors predicted only Embarrassment/Frustration (B=.41, SE=.10, ß=.16, p<.001). Non-Aggressive behaviors predicted Impact on Life (B=.14, SE=.05, ß=.13, p<.01) and Guilt/Uncertainty (B=.05, SE=.02, ß=.10, p<.05). Verbally Agitated behaviors predicted all burden dimensions: Impact on Life (B=.35, SE=.06, ß=.32, p<.001), Guilt/Uncertainty (B=.12, SE=.03, ß=.22, p<.001), Embarrassment/Frustration (B=.17, SE=.02, ß=.38, p<.001), and Overwhelm (B=.16, SE=.02, ß=.40, p<.001).

Findings enhance understanding of the relationships between specific agitation symptoms and distinctive aspects of caregiver burden, suggesting that targeted interventions for aspects of caregiver burden based on agitation symptoms may be useful in alleviating burden. Interventions focused on caregivers' feelings of guilt, personal health decline, lack of time for themselves, and fear and uncertainty about the future may be effective when care recipients present with physically nonaggressive behaviors (e.g., pacing, restlessness, inappropriate dress or disrobing). When a care recipient presents with physically aggressive behaviors, helping the caregiver cope with embarrassment or anger may be of benefit. When a care recipient presents with verbally agitated behaviors, interventions targeting burden globally may be most useful. Future work should seek to replicate the current findings and explore such interventions.