Material and Methods: We included a total of 40 hemiplegic patients, 20 aphasic and 20 non-aphasic, and 40 family members who provided care for these patients in this study. The patients' demographic features were recorded. The same investigator used the Gulhane Aphasia Test (GAT) to evaluate whether the patients were aphasic, the State-Trait Anxiety Scale to determine the anxiety level, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale to determine the hopelessness level of the family members.

Results: The mean age was 54.10}14.18 years for the aphasic patients and 66.70}13.44 years for the non-aphasic patients. There were 8 females (40%) and 12 males (60%) in both groups. All family members caring for the patients were female. The mean scale scores were as follows: state anxiety 47.8}6.64 (35–57), trait anxiety 52.25}7.91 (39–64), and hopelessness 11.65+1.81 (8–15) in the aphasic group; state anxiety 42.20}7.68 (29–59), trait anxiety 49.25}11.27 (27– 71), and hopelessness 12.05}2.16 (8–16) in the non-aphasic group. There was no significant difference between the trait anxiety level and hopelessness level of the family members caring for aphasic or nonaphasic hemiplegic patients (p>0.05), whereas there was a significant difference between the state anxiety levels (p<0.05).

Conclusion: We found that the trait anxiety and hopelessness levels of family members caring for hemiplegic patients were not influenced by whether the patient was aphasic, whereas the state anxiety level was higher in the relatives of aphasic patients. Keywords : Aphasia, anxiety, hemiplegia, hopelessness