European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic and pervasive condition that begins in childhood and is characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. ADHD is also often associated with extreme temperamental characteristics such as negative mood, short persistence, low frustration tolerance, excitability, and a quick temper. Of particular clinical significance is that parents of children with ADHD very often experience considerable stress in their parenting roles. Such stress typically is much greater than that found among families of normal controls.
Materials and Methods: Study had a longitudinal designed. 52 mothers and 48 fathers of 6-12 years aged children with psychiatric diagnosis of ADHD, who had come or referred to psychiatric clinic in Sir T. hospital Bhavnagar were eligible to participate and were randomly recruited in the study, in time phase of 12 months. All the children who were brought to the clinic with chief complaints of inattention and hyperactivity were evaluated using the DSM V criteria to confirm the diagnosis. Ascertainment of ADHD diagnosis was made using gold-standard criteria based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, edition 5. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21) was employed for the present purpose to tap emotional distress of caregivers of ADHD children. p<0.05 is considered to be statistically significant.
Results: 100 participants containing mothers and fathers of children with ADHD child were involved in this study Out of 100 participants 19% of them suffering from depression, 11% were suffering from anxiety and as much as 43% of them suffering from stress in their daily life.  Which indicate significantly higher mean stress score in mother compare to father.
Conclusion: Our study shows significantly higher prevalence of stress and anxiety in mother compare to father. Variable like level of education also significantly affect level of stress and anxiety in parents with individual with higher level of education having lower prevalence of stress and anxiety in their life.