Comparison of caregivers’ characteristics, stigma, and disease burden of children with autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit disorder in Egypt

Abstract

Background: Studies show that autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder place a significant stigma and burden on caregivers, economically as well as socially, psychologically, and emotionally. The current study aims to assess caregivers of those children with reference to stigma and disease burden, evaluation of different psychiatric symptoms, and quality of life. Also, it aims to compare the extent of such disruption related to the type of the disorder (ASD versus ADHD). A cross-sectional, analytical study was designed including 72 caregivers {38 caregivers of autism versus 34 caregivers of ADHD}; all of them were assessed for (1) stigma; (2) disease burden; (3) depression, anxiety, and sensitivity; and (4) quality of life. Results: The current results show that caregivers of ASD and ADHD have a higher score of stigmas, burden, depression, anxiety, and a poorer QoL than normal; all these variables are worse in ASD caregivers than ADHD caregivers. Conclusion: This study supports the notion that both ADHD and ASD pose a great challenge for their caregivers which is higher in ASD than ADHD caregivers.