Depression And Anxiety In Parents Of Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders In Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Raising a child with Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) can be difficult because it affects the sociality of the parents and their relationships and requires parents to have another set of skills to deal with their child. Hence, the risk of depression and anxiety will increase. Methodology: This study is a prospective, qualitative, cross-sectional, anonymous questionnaire-based study, in which four hundred and sixteen parents of children with (NDDs) in Saudi Arabia participated. The sample size was determined using the Richard Geiger equation with a margin error of 5%, a confidence level of 95%, and 50% for response distribution. The screening was done using a validated Arabic version of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) which disturbed into Saudi neurodevelopmental disorders related associations and clinics, and psychiatric clinics. The data were collected, reviewed, and then fed to Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 (SPSS: An IBM Company). Results: Our study demonstrated that (85.1%) of parents of children with (NDDs) have depression and (85.5%) have anxiety, with no significant difference between mothers and fathers in rates of depression and anxiety. Furthermore, no significant difference was measured between the type of (NDDs) and rates of depression and anxiety in parents. Conclusion: Children with (NDDs) affect their parent’s mental health in terms of increasing rates of depression and anxiety. The increase is not correlated with specific etiology. To combat this phenomenon, increasing efforts must be placed to combat this issue.