Avinash De Sousa.
Mothers of children with developmental disabilities: an analysis of psychopathology.
J Pak Psych Soc Jan ;7(2):84-90.

Objective: To compare the psychopathology in mothers of autistic children with mothers of mentally retarded children. Design: Cross section study. Place and duration of study: This study was carried out on mothers of children studying in special schools across Mumbai, India from January 2006 to January 2009. Subject and Methods: 300 mothers each of children with mental retardation were rated on the Beck Depression Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Symptom Checklist-90 Revised. The data was tabulated and statistically analysed. Results: Mothers of autistic children had significantly greater depression than mothers of mentally retarded children (p = 0.0481). Anxiety state and trait scores were significantly higher in these groups though psychopathological anxiety was absent (p = 0.0057, p = 0.0002). Mothers of mental retarded children had greater alexithymia scores and a significant majority of them had alexithymia of a pathological nature (p = 0.0001). They also had higher somatization scores on the SCL-90 (p = 0.031) while autistic mothers reflected greater anxiety (p = 0.0016) and general symptomatology index scores (p = 0.0021). Conclusion: The psychopathology in mothers of children with developmental disabilities warrants attention in any program designed to treat children with autism and mental retardation.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com