Brain Disorders and Therapeutics

Biography

Biography: Redina Hasani

Abstract

Expressed emotions and caregiver’s burden perceived by the family members has an impact on remission and relapses in children with autism. The expressed emotions and burden perceived by the parents of children with autism living in nuclear families in a country such as Albania where social security is far from perfect, gives an indication of the impact these emotions have in children with autism. Parents of 71 children with autism (>3 yrs. & without any comorbid disorder), in age range 4.9±0.2 yrs., attending the Community Center of Mental Health No.1 Tirana, Albania, were enrolled for a standardized interview after taking informed consent. Tools used were burden assessment schedule (BAS). 62 children (40 M, 22 F) had both the parents while nine had a single parent. Mean BAS score for mothers and fathers of male patients were 56±8.56 and 42±10.34 respectively, for female patients were 56±7.36 and 40±9.25 respectively. Mean criticism score for mothers and fathers of male patients were 1.97±0.46 & 2.48±0.31 respectively while for female patients were 1.85±0.48 and 2.17±0.49 respectively. Thus, mothers and fathers of children with autism behave differently of perceived burden and expressed emotions and the response for female and male child is also different. Burden perceived (BAS score) by mothers is higher than by fathers for both male and female child. Mothers showed more emotional involvement (more for male than female child) while fathers showed more criticism.