A Systematic Review on the Impact of the Social Confinement on People with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Yurena Alonso-Esteban,Esperanza Navarro-Pardo,Francisco Alcantud-Marín,María Fernanda López-Ramón,Verónica Moreno-Campos

doi:10.3390/brainsci11111389

Yurena Alonso-Esteban, Esperanza Navarro-Pardo + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11111389

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Journal: Brain sciences	Publication Date: Oct 22, 2021
Citations: 26	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Valencia

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had imposed a variety of containment measures on the general population for prolonged periods. Confinement has had, and still has, social, economic, educational, health, and psychological consequences on the entire population. Objective: In this article, a systematic search has been performed based on studies carried out since the beginning of the pandemic, regarding the impact of these containment measures on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) population and their caregivers. Method: We consulted six databases (i.e., PubMed, Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct) and selected ten studies that met the inclusion criteria. The chosen studies have been classified according to their theoretical focus, methodology, and target population. Results: We found an increase in stress and a decrease in psychological well-being among individuals diagnosed with ASD (i.e., parents and caregivers). Additionally, in studies focused on children, youth, and adults with ASD diagnosis, the results are contradictory depending on variables such as age, ASD severity, or type of family structure. Conclusions: The results show that the consequences of quarantine and social confinement are quite contradictory and depend on variables such as age, ASD severity, and family features.

Highlights

Three months after the appearance of the first cases of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuham (China), the World Health Organization (WHO) [1] recognized the severity and extent of the pandemic
It is noted that patients with COVID-19 and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) plus intellectual disability (ID) showed longer and more intense hospital stays [18] and represent a high-risk population who should have access to vaccines as a priority [19]
Added to the risk of contagion, the stress generated by the pandemic situation, uncertainty, isolation, and interruption of treatments showed that the ASD population and patients with mental health disorders can be more vulnerable and may present an increase in the intensity and frequency of comorbid symptoms [20,21]

Summary

Introduction

Three months after the appearance of the first cases of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuham (China), the World Health Organization (WHO) [1] recognized the severity and extent of the pandemic. Added to the risk of contagion, the stress generated by the pandemic situation, uncertainty, isolation, and interruption of treatments showed that the ASD population and patients with mental health disorders can be more vulnerable and may present an increase in the intensity and frequency of comorbid symptoms (especially those related to anxiety and depression) [20,21]. Anxiety and depression disorders are the most common mental disorders, [22] and often coexist [23] since both involve emotional dysregulation In this sense, it seems reasonable to think that individuals suffering from anxiety disorders prior to the pandemic period are more vulnerable to experiencing further psychological stress in the pandemic context [24]. Children, youth population, and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders (and in particular, those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) [25]) can be considered more vulnerable as their treatments supports and routines have been discontinued [26]

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