Separate statistical analyses were performed for subgroups and individual symptoms of non-cognitive disturbance. For subgroups, multivariate analyses identified depression and behavioural disturbances in patients as significant predictors of subjective burden in carers. Carer distress was predicted by depression, psychosis and cognitive impairments in patients and carer gender. For individual symptoms of non-cognitive disturbance, three features of depression in patients (mood-related signs, physical signs and behaviour changes), walking disruptions and the patient–carer relationship predicted of subjective burden in carers. Variance in the level of carer distress was accounted for by sleep disruptions, hallucinations and mood-related depressive features in patients and carer gender