title: [Mental health state of parents of children with autism].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the mental health state of parents of children with autism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mental health state was evaluated by conducting the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90) on parents of 34 children with autism and of 35 healthy children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SCL-90 total scores in the fathers (162.5±34.0) and mothers of autistic children (175.1±51.0) were significantly higher than those in healthy children's parents (142.4±42.8 and 152.3±40.6, respectively) (P<0.05). The SCL-90 scores of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression, anxiety and paranoia in the fathers of autistic children were significantly higher than those in the fathers of healthy children (P<0.05). The SCL-90 scores of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, paranoia, psychotic symptoms, hostility and sleep/diet were significantly higher in the mothers of autistic children than those in the mothers of healthy children (P<0.05). The mothers of autistic children presented higher SCL-90 factor scores in interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety and psychotic symptoms than the fathers (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We should pay more attention to the mental health of parents of autistic children.
authors.affiliation: Psychological Clinic, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center/Guangzhou Children's Hospital, Guangzhou 510120, China. Email: annaao1223@163.com.
authors.forename: Wan-Xing
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Cai-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Ling-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D005220:Fathers; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D009035:Mothers; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology