The purpose of this cross-sectional, descriptive study was to identify 
predictors of distress for family caregivers of persons with a primary malignant 
brain tumor (PMBT). The effect of the care recipient's functional, cognitive, 
and neuropsychiatric status on caregiver burden and depressive symptoms was 
examined through telephone interviews with 95 caregivers. Care recipients' 
neuropsychiatric status consistently affected caregivers' depressive symptoms 
and burden, and assisting with activities of daily living affected burden 
related to caregivers' schedules and health. The care recipient's cognitive 
status and need for assistance with instrumental activities of daily living did 
not affect any outcome variable. Results may help identify caregivers at risk 
for negative outcomes, and suggest interventions to improve caregivers' 
emotional health.