who found that caregiver depression and burden can exist in the presence
of lower levels of patient dependence. The relative independence
of these constructs is confi rmed by weak correlation
and by the fact that depressive symptoms failed to explain the
burden factors (i.e., sense of abandonment, impact of caring
on daily schedule). Thus, caregiver levels of emotional distress—
at least among the group of caregivers of patients with
cancer at the end of life included in this study—come from
their relationship to their patient, the outside demands placed
on them through employment, and the number of symptoms
they perceived the patient to be experiencing.