Psychological burden in stroke survivors and caregivers dyads at the rehabilitation center of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo): A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Stroke is a major cause of burden which can lead to anxiety and depressive disorders in stroke patients and their caregivers. This study aimed to assess the burden of depression and anxiety and covariates as well as its association with functional disability level among stroke survivors and caregivers dyads. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed for anxiety and depressive symptoms, and perceived burden among survivors of stroke and their caregivers in the rehabilitation center of Kinshasa; using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to identify participants with anxiety and depression; the Zarit Burden Inventory to assess the burden of depression and anxiety; and the modified Rankin scale used to assess functional outcome or level of disability. Results: Eight in ten caregivers of stroke survivors perceived the burden, which took more expression of depression than anxiety, whereas three in ten stroke survivors had a burden expressed by symptoms consistent with depressive and anxiety disorders. Being married increases the risk of perceiving the burden among stroke survivors. We found a positive association between high level of burden and depression and anxiety among caretakers of stroke survivors. Moreover, our findings did not reveal a statistical association between the burden and level of dependence evaluated based on the severity of disability. Conclusions: The psychological burden is higher among caregivers than stroke survivors. Specialized programs targeted the psychological distress, its association with anxiety and depressive symptoms; and the functional disability level of stroke survivors should be integrated into the rehabilitation center of patients with disabled illnesses. Our findings warrant further studies to test the impact of reducing psychological burden on functional disability.