A Study of Psychosocial Profile of Mentally Handicapped Children and Psychopathology in their Parents

Abstract

Aim: To study the socio-demographic profile of mentally handicapped children and to compare the Psychiatric morbidity in parents of mentally handicapped children with that of parents of non handicapped children. Materials and Methods: The sample under study consisted of 50 children of both sexes 30 of these were mentally handicapped children & 20 children were non handicapped. IQ was assessed using Coloured Progressive matrices and Goddard form board. SCID I was used to assess Psychopathology of parents. Results:The prevalence of consanguinity, pregnancy complications, co-morbidity (speech and seizure disorder) and psychopathology in mothers was high in mentally handicapped children as compared to non handicapped children.