Analysis of Rumination, Thought Suppression, and Coping Strategies Among Caregivers of Bipolar Disorder and  Alzheimer’s Dementia Patients

Objective Family caregivers of patients with bipolar disorder or dementia show high levels of psychological distress, partly explained by rumination and thought suppression—features that call for tailored interventions. The present study aims at comparing rumination, thought suppression, and coping strategies in caregivers of patients with bipolar disorder and Alzheimer's dementia to understand the unique psychological burdens borne by these groups. Methods 80 carers from Yazd, Iran, were recruited through targeted sampling at local health care facilities and community support groups and were divided into two equal groups caring for either a person with bipolar disorder (n = 40) or a person with dementia (n = 40). The data were collected by using the Hoeksma and Maro Rumination Questionnaire, the White Bear Suppression Inventory, and the Lazarus and Folkman Coping Strategies Questionnaire. Statistical analyses were conducted with independent t-tests using p < 0.05 as the significance level. Results Family caregivers of individuals with bipolar disorder reported significantly more rumination, thought suppression, and emotion-focused coping than dementia caregivers. Problem-focused coping did not differ significantly between the groups. Conclusion Our results underline the increased psychosocial burden borne by caregivers of bipolar patients, accounting for the episodic and unpredictable course of the disorder. Caregivers of dementia patients, experiencing through the progressive course of cognitive decline, present lower levels of rumination and thought suppression. Tailored interventions in problem-solving and emotional resilience need to consider the particular needs of each caregiver group.