Neurotic disorders in relatives of children with early childhood autism
Introduction. Тhe article presents the results of studying neurotic disorders in relatives of children with early childhood autism, and factors that provoke their occurrence. Materials and methods. Тhe main group included 150 parents of children with an established diagnosis of early childhood autism, in the control group - 60 parents of typically developing children. An analysis of complaints, data of the anamnesis and the mental status of participants in the study was conducted, the survey also used the Wainhold scale (The Codependency Self-Inventory Scale). Diagnosis of mental disorders was carried out in accordance with the criteria of ICD-10. Results and conclusions. Neurotic disorders occur significantly more often among parents of autistic children than in the control group, statistically significant differences are found in the incidence of generalized anxiety disorder. The emergence and heavier manifestations of neurotic disorders are influenced by conflict relations between spouses, narrowing of the circle of communication, a decrease in the quality of life caused by a child's autism, as well as a propensity for co-dependent models of behavior. As a result of the course of educational lectures, there was a decrease in the level of anxiety among its participants, a reduction in difficulties in understanding the manifestations of the disease and communicating with the child, as well as increasing the parents' appeal for specialized care about their psychological problems and / or mental disorders.