Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Impact of diagnosis on parents' mental health

Abstract

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts social interaction and communication. The discovery of the diagnosis can generate a significant emotional impact on parents, triggering feelings such as grief, anxiety and overload. This study aims to analyze the emotional impact on parents after the discovery of the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This is an integrative review with qualitative analysis. A search was conducted in the Virtual Health Library (BVS) and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) databases, using the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) combined with Boolean operators, resulting in the collection of 50 studies from the databases used. The results indicated that the discovery of the diagnosis of autism by parents involves both emotional and occupational challenges. They need to learn to deal with the difficulties of the autistic child, which can generate feelings of helplessness and anxiety, especially in the face of symptoms related to impaired interaction and social communication. It is concluded that the diagnosis of autism represents a moment of great emotional impact for the child's parents. Parents go through a process that involves grief, anxiety and overload. The need for emotional support becomes essential to minimize the challenges faced, highlighting the importance of support networks.