7.1 Clinical Perspective: Caregiver Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Vol. 55; no. 10; pp. S96 - S97
• Main Author: Mao, Alice R., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Baltimore Elsevier Inc 01-10-2016; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Adaptive behavior; Adults; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Autistic children; Caregiver burden; Caregivers; Caregiving; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Children; Coping; Coping strategies; Denial; Developmental stages; Early intervention; Educational Finance; Emotions; Individualized; Intervention; Life transitions; Medical prognosis; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Occupational stress; Parents; Parents & parenting; Pediatrics; Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Sick children; Stress; Unpredictable
• ISSN: 0890-8567; 1527-5418
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2016.07.056

Objectives: The goal of this session is to provide the practicing CAP with fundamental information on how to help parents cope with the unique stressors of raising a child with autism. The experience of providing care for a child with a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder is often difficult, challenging, and life-changing for the entire family. Unique stressors that caregivers of children with autism face include unpredictable prognostic outcomes, lack of reciprocal communication with their child, and inconsistent behaviors of their child. Positive coping strategies for adjusting to the responsibilities of caring for a child with autism through transition into adulthood will be discussed. Methods: Empirical evidence on caregiver stress for families raising a child with autism will be reviewed. Potential barriers for provision of optimal treatment created by denial and lack of resources or inadequate information will be discussed. Suggestions for helping the family through developmental stages and the need to reevaluate therapy and services will be provided. Results: Participants will be able to recognize emotional obstacles that parents face in accessing care for their child with autism. Clinicians will be able to work collaboratively with families to develop a comprehensive multimodal treatment plan that encompasses emotional and educational support for the parents, psychopharmacology, and individualized educational/ behavioral interventions. Conclusions: Integration of approaches to educate and support parents of children with ASDs will have significant implications for early intervention and long-range planning and will maximize potential for adaptive functioning for their child.