MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: Autism is characterized as a neurodevelopmental disorder with deficits in communication and social interaction. The COVID-19 pandemic was a period that put at risk the mental health of the family and the child with autism. During the quarantine period, parents had to adapt to remote therapy and balance work in a distance learning format, which generated stressful events. The objective is to analyze scientific evidence about the psychological distress of parents and children with disabilities in Brazilian and international literature and to analyze the disturbances experienced by the family during quarantine. The method used is an integrative literature review. It is expected with this research to understand the factors that affected the mental health of parents and children with autism and to analyze the possible damages.