The Caregiver Burden Inventory in evaluating the burden of caregivers of elderly demented patients: results from a multicenter study.

Background And Aims: The burden perceived by caregivers of patients with dementia is a fundamental prognostic aspect in the history of the disease. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the internal consistency of the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), a scale used to quantify burdens in different aspects of a caregiver's life, and the influence of patients' and caregivers' characteristics on its different dimensions.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 419 demented patients and their caregivers were evaluated in 16 geriatric centers in Italy.