Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Psychiatry 1735-4587 13 3 2018 06 14 191 199 EN Farnaz NasrEesfahani Mental Health Research Center, Tehran Institute of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mitra Hakim Shooshtari Mental Health Research Center, Tehran Institute of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Rasoul Shirmohammadi Sosfadi Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Fahimeh Saeed Mental Health Research Center, Tehran Institute of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Fereshteh Jalai Institute of Cognitive Sciences Studies, Tehran, Iran. Aida Farsham Clinical Psychology, Day center in Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Reza Bidaki Department of Psychiatry, Research Center of Addiction and Behavioral Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.And Diabetes Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. 2017 06 03 Objective: This study was conducted to recognize the problems of living with a sibling with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to improve their quality of life. Method: A total of 30 participants were selected among the 4-to11- year-old siblings of children who had referred to Tehran Psychiatric Institute due to autism spectrum disorder. For the control group, 30 children aged 4 to11years old who were the siblings of patients with chronic diseases referring to Pediatric Clinic of Rasoul-e Akram (PBUH) hospital were selected. Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-Second Edition (GARS-2) was filled out for patients and siblings participating in the study and Child Behavior Checklist was completed by their parents. Results: The mean age of the patients in this study was 4.46 ± 9.66 years (range: 1.5-22 years), and the mean age in the healthy children was 2.54 ± 8.18 years (range: 4-11 years). The mean scores of anxiety/depression, withdrawn/depressed, somatic complaints, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, and rule-breaking behavior subscale of CBCL (Child Behavior Checklist) were not significantly different between groups. Aggressive behavior was the only subscale that showed such difference (p = 0.008). Externalizing problems in children who had siblings with ASD was higher than children who had siblings with physical illness. In a group in which a sibling had ASD, sisters were more anxious/ depressed than brothers. Conclusion: Due to various psychological and social problems that siblings of children with ASD experience throughout their life, studying their psychological problems to improve their quality of life seems to be of paramount importance. https://ijps.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijps/article/view/1088 https://ijps.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijps/article/download/1088/738