Anxiety and depression among caregivers of pediatric patients with tic disorder in western China: a hospital-based cross-sectional study

Abstract Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and potential influencing factors of anxiety and depression among caregivers of Chinese pediatric patients with TD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on caregivers of pediatric patients with TD at a women’s and children’s hospital in western China from January to June 2021. A structured questionnaire was designed to collect data. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS), respectively. Results: A total of 318 participants were included in this study, with a response rate of 89.58% (318/355). The average age of pediatric patients with TD was 8.38 ± 2.54 years, and 78.30% (249/318) of caregivers were aged between 30-50 years old. Overall, 14.78% (47/318) of caregivers presented the symptom of anxiety, with a mean SAS score of 54.81±5.26, and 19.81% (63/318) of caregivers presented the symptom of depression, with a mean SDS score of 59.64±5.83. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis revealed that the common family relationship and solitary pediatric patients were significantly associated with anxiety in caregivers of pediatric patients with TD, as well as the single-parent family, mistaken cognition of TD, and fewer friends of pediatric patients were significantly associated with depression. Conclusions: Anxiety and depression are prevalent among caregivers of TD pediatric patients, which brings up the importance of psychiatric support for this group. Longitudinal studies need to be conducted to further confirm the causality before interventions to improve mental health are developed.