2006 Volume 46 Issue 1 Pages 75-86
Objective : The characteristics of disabilities and social adaptation of children with developmental disabilities were studied in relation to the anxiety and/or depression of their mothers. Subjects : The data of 45 mothers of children with developmental disabilities, evaluated in the outpatient facilities of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Kyusyu University Hospital and affiliated hospitals, was evaluated. All received six months or more of pharmacological treatment or psychotherapy, including 23 mothers of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD group) and 22 mothers of children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD group), as well as a control group of 23 mothers. Method : Evaluation with the SDS depression scale and the STAI anxiety scale was done at baseline and six month after therapeutic intervention. The social adaptation of the children was evaluated using the DSM-IV GAF scale. Results : The results indicated that the ADHD group had a significantly higher degree of anxiety and/or depression (p<0.01) than the PDD and the control group. There was no correlation between the social adaptation of the children and anxiety and/or depression in the mothers. Some mothers in the ADHD group had a high degree of anxiety and/or depression that persisted after therapeutic intervention, including some who experienced divorce, abuse, domestic violence, or maternal psychopathology. Our data demonstrate that the background of the anxiety and/or depression in mothers originate not only from their children with developmental disabilities but also the existence of serious psychosocial background and maternal psychopathology. Conclusion : These results suggest that the specific psychotherapy intervention is needed for the prevention of secondary comorbid condition in mothers.
