Jacob Lee

Exploring interactions between caregiver and patient stress and mental health in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Started Jan. 17, 2024

Abstract or project description

Caregiving stress is an under-explored phenomenon that expands the mental health concerns beyond the person diagnosed to their family and care giving unit. With rare diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, the challenges caregivers face are also met with less frequent support given the rarity of the disease. This research project will look into the literature on mental health of patients with ALS, the caregiving burden of ALS, and the mental health needs of all parties involved. Further understanding the biological factors of ALS may identify risk factors of mental health disorders for both the patient and immediate family members. We will take an ‘inside-out’ approach to understanding mental health from the cellular level to the social systems level.