International Travel Medicine Center of Iran International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health 2322-1100 3 1 2015 02 01 Anxiety, Depression, and Spirituality Among Caregivers of Patients With Alzheimer Disease 29 35 33166 10.20286/ijtmgh-030137 EN Roya Samadi Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Naghmeh Mokhber Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Farshad Faridhosseini Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mehri Baghban Haghighi Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Shervin Assari Social Determinants of Health Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture, and Health (CRECH), University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, USA Department of Psychiatry, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA 0000-0002-5054-6250 Journal Article 2014 07 16 <strong>Introduction:</strong> The nature of the Alzheimer’s disease gradually makes patients dependent to persistent care. This may have a large negative effect on the caregivers’ quality of life and predisposes them to psychological distress. Spirituality, however, may act as a buffer and enhance their adaptability with stressful conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the association between spirituality and symptoms of anxiety and depression in a sample of caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. <br/><strong>Methods: </strong>In this cross-sectional study, 209 outpatients with moderate Alzheimer’s disease (using DSM-IV criteria and MMSE test) and their caregivers were selected. Patients’ and caregivers’ demographic data were recorded. The Spiritual Intelligence Questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale were completed by caregivers. <br/><strong>Results: </strong>Spirituality was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms. Spirituality, however, had a positive but non-significant correlation with anxiety symptoms. <br/><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although symptoms of anxiety and depression are highly prevalent in Alzheimer caregivers, only depressive symptoms are directly linked to spirituality. Spiritually-based approach may be a component of therapeutic interventions, in order to enhance caregivers’ adaptability. https://www.ijtmgh.com/article_33166_b9c72b87254f0b30ae977c99e10b729e.pdf