New research has highlighted the mental health struggles of some parents of children with learning disabilities.
The study was carried out by Professor Claire Hughes of the University of Cambridge, UK, and colleagues.
In the British Journal of Psychiatry today (11 March) they explain that parents of children with genetic conditions that cause learning disabilities are at risk of mental health problems.
Their work also looked at the reasons why some parents are at greater risk of depression and anxiety than others.
They analysed information collected on 888 families taking part in the IMAGINE-ID study of genetic diagnoses for learning disabilities and mental health. Results showed that worry, anxiety and stress were much higher in these parents than the general population.
Mothers were particularly affected, and the risk factors tended to be the type of genetic disorder, their child’s physical and medical needs, and their child’s behaviour, contrary to previous evidence pointing to social factors.
Professor Hughes said: “It’s important that we understand why some parents are at greater risk of mental health problems than others. If a parent experiences long-term mental health problems, this could have a knock-on effect on the whole family, affecting partner relationships, the wellbeing of their child with disability, and the experiences of siblings.
“That’s why interventions are often more successful when they are designed to help parents in order to help children.”
Co-author Dr Kate Baker added: “These results suggest that we need to start looking at genetic diagnoses as useful not just for predicting a child’s needs and informing the support that they might receive, but also for predicting the broader impact that the diagnosis will have on their family.”
Baker, K et al. Childhood intellectual disability and parents’ mental health: integrating social, psychological and genetic influences. British Journal of Psychiatry 11 March 2020; doi: 10.1192/bjp.2020.38
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