在宅高次脳機能障害患者の介護者の精神的健康度と介護負担感を含む関連因子の検討

Mental health and related factors : Burden of caregivers of patients with higher brain function disturbance

要旨：これまで明らかにされてこなかった在宅高次脳機能障害患者の介護者の精神的健康や介護負担感の実態を明らかにし，その関連因子を分析して今後の支援の課題を抽出した．分析の結果，介護期間や睡眠時間が短いほど介護負担感が高くなる傾向や，精神的健康が悪化する傾向が認められた．高次脳機能障害の症状では，遂行機能障害と介護負担感，社会的行動障害と精神的健康度に相関が認められた．今後の支援の課題としては，介護生活の初期からの高次脳機能障害に対する対応方法の指導や，介護者の体調管理への支援などが必要であることが示唆された．

　The mental health and care-burden of the caregivers of patients suffering from higher brain function disturbances has not been clarified. Therefore, we analyzed factors contributing to mental problems of caregivers and extracted the following causes. There was an increase in care burden and a decrease in mental health during short periods of care and sleep. There was also a high correlation between the ability of the patients to accomplish tasks and the burden of the caregivers. Poor social behavior of the patients also contributed to the caregivers' poor mental health. Guiding caregivers in coping with these burdens from the early stages of the care life is important. In addition, supporting the physical condition of the care person is necessary.