Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

June 18, 2020

Risk of Depression in Family Caregivers Unintended Consequence of COVID-19

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  • [pre-print, not peer reviewed] Gallagher and Wetherell found that family caregivers had a higher risk of depression than non-caregivers in an analysis using data from a longitudinal UK population–level dataset collected before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression was higher among caregivers both before (17% vs 12%) and during the pandemic (22% vs 18%). Among caregivers, loneliness (measured on a 3-point scale) was associated with a nearly 4-fold higher odds of depression. 

Gallagher and Wetherell. (June 17, 2020). Risk of Depression in Family Caregivers Unintended Consequence of COVID-19. Pre-print downloaded June 18 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.15.20131532