Mothers of children with developmental disabilities: an analysis of psychopathology

ABSTRACT

To compare the psychopathology in mothers of autistic children with mothers of mentally retarded children. Cross section study. This study was carried out on mothers of children studying in special schools across Mumbai, India from January 2006 to January 2009. 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. 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]. The psychopathology in mothers of children with developmental disabilities warrants attention in any program designed to treat children with autism and mental retardation