RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Resources to address the needs of parents of intellectually disabled children in developing countries are limited. AIMS: The efficacy of interactive group psychoeducation on measures of parental attitude towards intellectual disability was assessed in southern India. METHOD: Fifty-seven parents randomised to 10 weeks of experimental and control therapy were assessed using the Parental Attitude Scale towards the Management of Intellectual Disability. The pre- and post-intervention measurements were done by a single-blinded rater and compared. RESULTS: The intervention group had a statistically significant increase in the outcome scores and clinical improvement in the total parental attitude score, orientation towards child-rearing knowledge towards intellectual disability and attitude towards management of intellectual disability, but no change in attitude towards the intellectual disability subscale. CONCLUSIONS: Interactive group psychoeducation is effective for changing the attitude of parents with intellectually disabled children, and is a viable option to be developed in situations where resources are limited.
