Hermanos de pacientes con trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad: relación entre psicopatología y la resiliencia

Abstract

IntroductionPatients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and their siblings share genetic and environmental characteristics, which are risk factors for presenting psychiatric disorders. Resilience could be a protective factor for the development of psychopathology. This study aimed to determine the association between levels of resilience and the presence of psychopathology in siblings at high risk (SHR). Materials and methodsTriplets consisting of an index patient with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a SHR and one of their parents were collected. The SHR were evaluated with a clinical interview and scales to diagnose psychopathology. They also filled out the Wagnild and Young resilience scale. In addition, psychosocial adversity factors and other sociodemographic data were evaluated. The sample was divide: HAR with 2 or more psychiatric disorders was called a group with high psychopathological burden, and SHR with one or none psychiatric disorders, a group with low psychopathological burden. The difference between high or low resilience was calculated according to the SHR psychopathology burden group. Adjustments for age, gender, psychosocial adversity index, psychopathology in parents and family APGAR were perform. ResultsA sample of 159 SHR was recruited, 100 from the high psychopathological burden group and 59 from the low psychopathological burden group. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was the most common psychiatric disorders in SHR followed by generalized anxiety disorder. It was found that 32.2% of SHR with high psychopathological burden, and 18% of SHR with low psychopathological burden had a low resilience score. The adjusted OR for low resilience was 1.85 (CI: 0.82-4.18, P=.136). ConclusionsSHR presented a slight and inverse association between the level of resilience and the psychopathological burden. To implement strategies to increase resilience levels could positively impact mental health in this population.