title: Prevalence of Maternal Affective Disorders in Chinese Mothers of Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of affective disorders and identify their associated factors among Chinese mothers of preschool children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Autism Spectrum Disorders Multidisciplinary Clinic of the United Christian Hospital from August 2012 to June 2013. All mothers of a consecutive series of preschool children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders at their first visit to the clinic were recruited. Information regarding the child-related, maternal, and environmental factors was collected. Psychiatric diagnoses were made according to the Chinese-Bilingual Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders. Independent factors associated with maternal affective disorders were determined by univariate and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 121 subjects, the point prevalence of affective disorders as a group was 29.8%. The point prevalence of major depressive disorders, adjustment disorders, anxiety disorders, and bipolar affective disorders was 14.9%, 10.7%, 3.3% and 0.8%, respectively. A higher level of disruptive and self-absorbed behaviours in the children (as assessed by the Developmental Behaviour Checklist), a higher level of affiliate stigma (as assessed by 22-item Affiliate Stigma Scale), and a history of psychiatric disorders were independently associated with current affective disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychiatric disorders, predominantly affective disorders, are common among Chinese mothers of preschool children with autism spectrum disorders. Identification of independent factors associated with maternal affective disorders can aid in the early detection of cases and planning of early intervention programmes to address both child and maternal psychological needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kwai Chung Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: M Gc
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Yiu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Child, preschool; Mood disorders; Mothers