title: Quality of Life in Caregivers of ADHD Children and Diabetes Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies have shown that the presence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) causes great impairment in academic, social, and professional activities as well as in the quality of life (QoL) of its patients. Similarly, the impact caused by other chronic disorders, such as diabetes, in the patient's QoL has been emphasized in many studies. Despite its relevance, no study has yet investigated whether ADHD caregivers and diabetic patients would have similar QoL impairment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted in order to compare the QoL scores among ADHD caregivers and diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 63 caregivers of ADHD children treated at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit at the Federal University of São Paulo (UPIA-UNIFESP) and 52 adult diabetic patients. Subjects were assessed with the World Health Organization quality of Life-Bref Version (WHOQOL-BREF), the Beck and Hamilton depression scales, and the Adult Self-Report Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared to the Brazilian normative data, ADHD caregivers had significantly lower scores in the social relations and environment WHOQOL domains. ADHD caregivers and diabetic patients had similar impairment in all WHOQOL domains except for the physical domain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ADHD affects the QoL of the patient's caregiver, with similar impairment, when compared to the QoL of diabetic patients. These results emphasize the need for assessing QoL of the caregivers as part of the treatment strategies. They also emphasize the need for future studies with larger sample sizes comparing how the QOL is impacted in different chronic disorders.
authors: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit (UPIA), Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors: Elisa Meirelles
authors: EM
authors: Andrade
authors: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit (UPIA), Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors: Laysa Minella
authors: LM
authors: Geha
authors: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit (UPIA), Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors: Paula
authors: P
authors: Duran
authors: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit (UPIA), Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors: Raphael
authors: R
authors: Suwwan
authors: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit (UPIA), Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors: Felipe
authors: F
authors: Machado
authors: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit (UPIA), Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors: Maria Conceição
authors: MC
authors: do Rosário
keywords: attention-deficit disorder and hyperactivity disorder; caregiver; children; diabetes; quality of life