A new way to measure partner burden in depression: Construction, validation, and sensitivity to change of the partner burden in depression questionnaire. (7th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Winter, Friederike; Jarczok, Marc N.; Warth, Marco; Hembd‐Peuse, Susanne; Ditzen, Beate; Aguilar‐Raab, Corina
• Is Part Of: Journal of marital and family therapy. Volume 48:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 1111
• Page End: 1127
• Publication Date: 2022-03-07
• Subjects: depression -- partner burden in depression -- relationship quality -- social support -- system quality; Marriage counseling -- United States -- Periodicals; Family psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Counseling -- Periodicals; Family -- Periodicals; Family Therapy -- Periodicals; Marriage -- Periodicals; Gezinstherapie; Conseil conjugal -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Thérapie familiale -- Périodiques; 616.89156
• DOI: 10.1111/jmft.12584
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0194-472X

Abstract

Abstract: Depression occurs in an interpersonal dynamic and living with a depressed person can lead to a significant burden on the partner. Instruments measuring burden do not address couples and often measure caregiving for individuals with schizophrenic disorders. The partner burden in depression (PBD) questionnaire is a new instrument measuring PBD by asking individuals, (1) which symptoms they can observe in their depressed partners and (2) to which degree this burdens them. Hence, PBD combines measuring the awareness of observed depressive symptoms and the resulting burden. Additionally, it addresses aspects unique to couple relationships. Our German validation confirmed a one‐factor model with 12 items. The PBD had good psychometric properties and was sensitive to change. Partner burden predicted self‐reported depressive symptoms (PHQ‐9) over time. PBD is short, easily applicable in research and practice and can add to the understanding of partner effects in depression.