Depression in mothers of children with high-functioning pervasive developmental disorders

Background:   It is not rare that mothers of children with high-functioning pervasive developmental disorders (HFPDD) fall into a depressive state, but the causes and related factors of them have not become clear.

Objectives: Objectives were 100 mothers of HFPDD children who belonged to an association of parents of HFPDD children.

Methods: The initial subjects were 100 mothers of HFPDD children who belonged to an association of parents of HFPDD children and completed a self-report inventory (Beck Depression Inventory). Seventeen subjects in the moderate depression range with scores of 19 points or more underwent a clinical interview using a structured interview (Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview: MINI) and DSM-IV.

Results: Thirteen women participated in the survey. A diagnosis of depression was appropriate for 10 women. The MINI and all clinical diagnoses were in agreement. The trigger for the depression was the HFPDD child for 6 women, family problems for 5 women, and human relations of the mother herself for 2. Five of the 10 women claimed a history of depression before the birth of their HFPDD child. Nine of the 10 women complained of receiving no cooperation from their husband in the home, three of whom had husbands undergoing treatment for depression. Of the 10 women, only 4 were receiving treatment, and after one year a diagnosis of depression was still appropriate in 6 of the 10 women.

Conclusions: Depression is recognized in at least 10% of mothers of HFPDD children, many of for whom it is long term. The results suggest that factors in this depression are not only the burden of child rearing, but also the inherent susceptibility to depression of the mothers themselves. Family problems including support from husbands are also thought to affect the onset of depression.