• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate depression, anxiety, alexithymia, stress res ponses in caregivers of patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Methods : The subjects were 38 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patients caregivers(38 women, mean age $37.5{\pm}6.5$). Patients were diagnosed with DSM-IV ADHD criteria. Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS) and Stress Response Inventory(SRI) were used for assessment. Results 1) The BDI scores of ADHD patients caregiver group were significantly higher than control group$(16.4{\pm}7.1\;vs.\;10.9{\pm}5.5)(p=0.011)$. 7 of the 38 caregivers(18.4%) and none of control group(0%) had BDI scores over 20 points(p=0.021). Calculated relative risk for ADHD in the presence of caregivers' depression was 1.516 overall(95% confidence interval, 1.234-1.862). 2) In ADHD patient's caregiver group, the scores of Stress Response Inventory were significantly higher than control group$(44.2{\pm}20.2\;vs.\;26.5{\pm}16.8)(p=0.006)$. 3) No significant differences were found in the score of STAI, SIAIS, SIAI-T, TAS between caregiver and control group. Conclusion : This study suggest that ADHD patients' caregivers are likely to have more depressive symptoms and higher stress response level than control group. We propose that physicians should consider integrated approaches for caregiver's psychopathology in the management of ADHD.