Stress in Parents With Autistic Children can be Reduced Through Problem-Solving Education

Researchers led by Emily Feinberg from Boston University School of Public Health have found that parents of children who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can reduce their stress levels and depressive symptoms through a cognitive-behavioral intervention known as problem-solving education (PSE) . Mothers of children with ASD consistently report high levels of parental stress, depressive symptoms, and social isolation, according to the study background. This psychological distress suggests a need for interventions that specifically address parental mental health after a child''s diagnosis.

Researchers conducted a clinical trial in an autism clinic and six community-based early intervention programs with 122 mothers of young children (under 6 years) who recently received a diagnosis of ASD. Fifty-nine mothers received six sessions of PSE (structured problem-solving) and 63 mothers received usual care (behavioral methods). Parental stress and maternal depressive symptoms were then measured after three months of treatment.

According to study results, a lower proportion of PSE mothers, compared to usual care mothers, had parental stress (3.8 percent vs. 29.3 percent, respectively). PSE mothers were also less likely to report depressive symptoms than the other group, but the difference was not statistically significant.

"Future analyses will examine the effect of intervention over a longer follow-up period and allow us to assess whether the intervention worked differently among subgroups of mothers, which is knowledge that could help us better target those most likely to benefit from the intervention," the authors conclude.
(JAMA Pediatr. Published online November 11, 2013. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.3445.



Source-Newswise