Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Formal and Informal Caregivers of Autistic Children in Karachi

Objectives: This study assesses the frequency of depression, anxiety, and stress in formal and informal caregivers of autistic children in Karachi City, Pakistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among caregivers of autistic children in specified centers in Karachi City, Pakistan. There were 255 participants out of which 111 were formal caregivers and 144 were informal caregivers. Depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS) was used to collect the data. The chi-square test was used to determine the relationship between the frequency of depression anxiety and stress among the two groups. Results: A total of 76.3% of informal caregivers were suffering from mild depression, 59.3% were moderately depressed, and 76.5% were severely depressed (P 0.01). Similarly, 72.4% had mild anxiety, 68.2% were moderately anxious, and 50.5% were severely anxious (P 0.01). In addition, 75.0% demonstrated mild, 71.1% moderate, 85.7% severe, and 95.0% extremely severe stress (P 0.01). However, there were no significant levels of depression, anxiety, and stress found among formal caregivers. Discussion: Depression, anxiety and stress were more commonly present in parents of autistic children (informal caregivers) as compared to formal caregivers.