www.wjpr.net Vol 7, Issue 03, 2018. 1365
THE PREVALENCE OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AMONG
MOTHERS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
AND ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER IN
MADINA, SAUDI ARABIA
Raghad Abdulelah Alsayed*, Arwa Ahmed Alharbi and Abeer Aiad Allehebi
Saudi Arabia.
ABSTRACT
Background: Of child with autism, parents especially mothers pose a
substantial role in the care and support and compared with other
parents they go throw many considerable challenges to handle with
their child illness. Studies on parents of a newly diagnosed autistic
child have proved that parents have raised levels of posttraumatic
stress disorder and depression.[14,15] Parents mostly liable to anxiety
wish can be attributed to demands of dealing with their autistic
child.[16,17,18,19,20,21,22] Aims & Objective: To explore the prevalence of
anxiety and depression among mothers of children with Autism spectrum disorders and
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Madinah Saudi Arabia. Material and Methods:
For mothers’ diagnostic assessment, we used questionnaire based on Taylor scale for anxiety
and Beck scale for depression. All mothers of children with Autism spectrum disorders and
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Madinah and were obtaining medical care in Al
-Amal Complex for Mental Health were invited to participate in study. Results: The result of
this study show that from 50 mother of children with Autism spectrum disorders and
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Madinah The prevalence of mothers who have
both anxiety and depression was 18 %. The prevalence of mothers with alone depression was
20%. The prevalence of mothers with alone anxiety was 8 %. Conclusion: Autism and
ADHD can affect the mother mental health which should be considered when treating the
child. We have to check the mother mental health give them proper treatment if needed, and
if there is a need for cognitive behavioral therapy.
Volume 7, Issue 03, 1365-1372. Research Article ISSN 2277–7105
Article Received on 19 Dec. 2017,
Revised on 08 Jan. 2018, Accepted on 29 Jan. 2018 DOI: 10.20959/wjpr20183-10859
*Corresponding Author
Raghad Abdulelah Alsayed
www.wjpr.net Vol 7, Issue 03, 2018. 1366
KEYWORDS: Autism; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity; Saudia Arabia; Depression;
Anxiety.
INTRODUCTION
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are defined as a serious group of complex
neurodevelopment disorders.[1] ASD are characterized by difficulties in social reciprocity,
communication abilities, restricted stereotyped behaviors.[2] Children's may also exhibit
comorbid psychiatric circumstances such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD).[3,4,5] At age of 3 years the (ASD) usually diagnosed.[6] Males have shown higher
rate of affected compared to females around 4.3 males are affected to 1 female.[7] A theory
has proposed that may a biological factor in female protective them against autism.[8]
Autism evaluated prevalence through the previous 40 years has redouble by 10-fold
approximately.[9] Recently, Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence shows evolution.[10]
In Europe and North America Among 2000 and 2010 the quantity of autism in children has
raised up from 5–9 to 90–110 per 10,000 individuals.[11] Also, in Asia the quantity has raised
up from 1.9 in the 1980s to 14.8 in 2010 per 10,000 individuals.[12] Furthermore, Saudi
published studies have mentioned unstable but rising rate of autism.[13]
Of child with autism, parents especially mothers pose a substantial role in the care and
support and compared with other parents they go throw many considerable challenges to
handle with their child illness. Studies on parents of a newly diagnosed autistic child have
proved that parents have raised levels of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression.[14,15]
Parents mostly liable to anxiety wish can be attributed to demands of dealing with their
autistic child. However individual characteristics play an important role in induced such
anxiety.[16,17,18,19,20,21,22] Furthermore, the onset of psychiatric symptoms in some parents have
been noted even before becoming apparent.[14,23]
ADHD is neuro-psychiatric condition affecting all ages all around the world characterized by
decreased in attention span and hyperactivity, 5-8% of school-aged children and adult.
In 60% continue to show symptoms.
www.wjpr.net Vol 7, Issue 03, 2018. 1367 Although in ADHD multiple neurotransmitters and brain region are implicated, dopamine
effect is the focus of the recent study.[24]
Mothers of children with ADHD can show an increased level of stress and signs depression,
because they have to deal with the child continuous movement which could be a danger to
himself, and in the school years they have to deal with the deceased school performance. And
most important people and other family members complain and judgment ]25]
Autism and (ADHD) is a child psychiatric disorder that showed significant increase in Saudi
Arabia, according to al-salehi et al 2009 cross sectional study 49 children were diagnosed
with ASD[26], although there has been care and services provided by the government to the
patients, there is an important side which been completely forgotten, which is the mothers of
the patient and the possibility for them to get anxiety or depression while taking care of the
child.
That is why the main objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of anxiety and
depression among mothers of children with Autism spectrum disorders and Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the prevalence of anxiety and depression among mothers of children with Autism
spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Madinah Saudi Arabia.
METHODOLOGY
Study design: Cross sectional study.
Study Population and period: This research was started in 2017 in Madinah City, Saudi
Arabia. The target population included all mothers of children either males or females
patient, Saudis or non in age group between 3-15 years old Who have already been diagnosed
with Autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with or without
others disabilities (mental retardation) and were obtaining medical care in Al- Amel complex
for mental health in Madinah.
Sampling technique and size: All mothers of children with Autism spectrum disorders and
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Madinah and were obtaining medical care in Al
www.wjpr.net Vol 7, Issue 03, 2018. 1368 Data collection tools instruments and procedures: For mothers’ diagnostic assessment we
used questionnaire based on Taylor scale for anxiety and Beck scale for depression. The
questionnaire is consisted of:
Questions on socio – demographic information about the child as age, sex, diagnosis
(autism, ADHD, with or without mental retardation), type of child treatment (psychological,
pharmaceutical, without treatment)….etc.. Questions on socio – demographic information
about both parents and marital status of them. Questions for depression assessment based
on Beck scale. Check list for anxiety assessment based on Taylor scale.
Data management: Statistical analysis were be used.
RESULTS
The result of this study show that from a sample population of 50 mother of children with
Autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Madinah who
agreed to participate in this study, 23 mothers show relevant score regarding to Taylor scale
for anxiety and Beck scale for depression.
The prevalence of mothers who have both anxiety and depression was 18%.
The prevalence of mothers with alone depression was 20%. The variables which makes
statistical significant differences in depression between mothers were: gender of the child
(.045), past history of self-harming or violence (.000), father job (.012), mother health (.048),
family atmosphere (.016) and economic status (.106). 47% of mothers under this group
showed mild severity of depression while 5.2% showed very sever degree.
The prevalence of mothers with alone anxiety was 8 %. The variables which makes statistical
significant differences in anxiety between mothers were gender (.016) and age (.050) of the
child, past history of head injuries (.035) epilepsy (.013) and self-harming or violence (.013),
father job (.035), family atmosphere (.011) and live with who (.036). 30.7% of mother under
this group showed mild severity of anxiety while 23.07% showed very sever degree.
The result of the survey showed diversity of severity. In depression, the results showed that
5.2% patient with severe depression, and 47.3% were mild. In anxiety, 23% were severe, and
www.wjpr.net Vol 7, Issue 03, 2018. 1369 This shows that although depression is higher in number, it is lower in severity and anxiety
was lower in number but much higher in severity.
DISCUSSION
The current study shows a prevalence of anxiety and depression among mothers of children
with Autism spectrum disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Medina
district from a sample population of 50 mother of children with Autism spectrum disorders
and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
The prevalence of mothers who have both anxiety and depression was 18 %, The variable
which makes the most statistical significant differences in depression between mothers is
economic status (.106) The variable which makes the most statistical significant differences
in anxiety between mothers is age of the child (.050) which is understandable in developing
country like KSA.
The mothers of ASD patients were 23 the mothers of ADHD patients were 6 other 5 that’s
identify the purpose of the study, that’s ADHD and ASD are stressful for the caregiver, it
could increase anxiety and depression, it has been found in other stydy (Narkunam, et al.,
2012)[27[, (Zablotsky, et al., 2012).]28[
Although the government has been showing interest in developing the mental health system
(Koenig, H.G., et al. (2014)).]29[ Lack the awareness of the importance of mental health
among the citizens of Madinah Saudi Arabia, and the stigma that follows mental health
patient (Alamri, Y.,. et al. (2016))]30[ might prevent the mother of speaking up or to be able to
identify the signs of anxiety and depression that why the health and the education authorities
should start raising mental health importance in KSA.
CONCLUSION
The study showed that Autism and ADHD can affect the mother mental health by inducing
anxiety and depression, which should be considered when treating the child. We have to
check the mother mental health give them proper treatment if needed, and if there is a need
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