A comparative study of mental health in caregivers of mental retardation and autism children

Abstract

Autism and Intellectual disability have significant impact on family members. Both are associated with 
poor communication, academic and social skills that make the child more dependent on the caregiver 
than the normal child.so we aimed at assessing mental health of caregivers of Mental Retardation and 
Autism children using GHQ-28. Our study showed that Mental health of these caregivers has 
significantly affected (p<0.05). Mental health of Caregivers of MR is more affected than that of Autism. 
Among the individual domains somatic symptoms, anxiety domain, social dysfunction and severe 
depression domain all are higher in MR care givers than AD group. Mothers of all the children showed 
features of Anxiety and Depression. And anxiety more than depression. Further mothers need more help 
than fathers. Skills training to the caregivers can help them to deal effectively with the children with such 
disabled children.