[Mental health of families caring for people with developmental disabilities: the present situation and strategies for improvement].
The authors assessed the status of mental health of families caring for relatives with developmental disabilities and neurological diseases. They were caring for their children in good morale, however, "burnouts" or neurotic conditions were more frequent in these families than in the medical staffs, the latter being studied in our previous researches. Mentally healthy persons consulted their spouse about their children as well as other things, and received his/her assistance in daily care. Families helped by unrelated persons were in better mental state. Families who had utilized inpatient care before entering a school had higher expectations from their surroundings. Therefore, medical services should provide support to such families to help improve their mental health.
Horiguchi
T
T
National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Chiba.
Kaga
M
M
Uno
A
A
Inagaki
M
M
Akiyama
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000451:nursing; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000451:nursing; D002648:Child; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000451:nursing*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000451:nursing; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000451:nursing; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged