Caregiver Strain in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders observed in children, which causes significant caregiver burden in terms of psychological, emotional, physical, and financial status. The current study correlates the severity and subtypes of ADHD with caregiver strain in children with ADHD.

A cross-sectional study in which 40 caregivers of children with ADHD were assessed using a semi-structured proforma, Caregiver Strain Questionnaire (CSQ), and Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale (VADPRS).

The mean global score of caregiver strain in this study was suggestive of moderate caregiver burden. The combined subtype of ADHD was the most common (42.5%) and had the greatest mean score of severity in this study, but it caused the least caregiver burden (P < .05). The inattentive subtype of ADHD was causing the greatest caregiver strain in all the domains of strain (objective, subjective externalized, and subjective internalized) [P < .05]. Most of the children had co-morbid psychiatric conditions (67.5%), of which oppositional defiant disorder was the commonest (60%) and caused significant caregiver strain in all the domains (P value even up to <.01 and <.001 for some domains).

The severity of caregiver burden is influenced by the subtype of ADHD and the existence of co-morbid psychiatric conditions. Applying such findings in routine clinical practice can be more helpful for improving the overall well-being of the child and the caregiver.