The objective of this study was to identify characteristics of informal caregivers and people with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving assistance that are associated with the caregiver`s perceived need for mental health care. Survey data were collected in interviews with 530 caregivers and analyzed using a logistic regression model. We found that older caregiver age significantly decreased the odds of caregivers` perceived need for mental health treatment. Better mental health domains of health-related quality of life among caregivers, as measured by the 8-item Short Form Health Status Survey (SF-8), also were associated with decreased odds of the need for mental health care. In contrast, the caregiver`s feeling that providing assistance was emotionally draining or the belief that this assistance threatened the caregiver/care recipient relationship significantly increased the odds of caregivers` needing mental health treatment. Health professionals treating informal caregivers should be sensitive to the impact that providing assistance has on the emotions, relationships, and mental health needs of caregivers.
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