Treatment could improve mental health of mothers with offspring with disabilities

Mental health needs of mothers of children with disabilities can be improved by trained mentors and professionals, according to recent study findings published in Pediatrics.

Elizabeth M. Dykens, PhD, of Vanderbilt University, and colleagues evaluated 243 mothers of children with disabilities to determine the levels of stress, psychiatric problems and illness among them. Participants were randomly assigned to mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) or positive adult development (PAD). No differences were found at baseline between the two groups.

Overall, 65% of offspring had autism spectrum disorders and 35% had other developmental disabilities. 

Eighty-seven percent of participants had elevated stress scores on the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, followed by 47% with elevated depression scores on the Beck Depression Inventory and 36% exceeded anxiety clinical cut points on the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Most commonly, participants were using psychotropic medications (58%), followed by depression (48%) and anxiety (40.6%) diagnoses.

During treatment, participants improved for parental distress and dysfunctional parent–child interactions. Improvements also were found for anxiety, depression, insomnia severity and life satisfaction. At follow-up, large improvements were found for anxiety and depression, whereas smaller improvements were found for insomnia, personal distress, life satisfaction and dysfunctional parent–child interactions.

Participants in the MBSR group had greater improvements in anxiety, depression and insomnia compared with participants in the PAD group.

“With advances in pediatric care, more children with neurodevelopmental disabilities are living well into adulthood, and most continue to reside with their aging parents,” the researchers wrote. “Even so, glaring knowledge gaps exist on the compromised health and mental health of the lifelong parent caregivers of young or adult children with developmental disabilities. This study helps bring light and justifies future efforts to promote their well-being and long-term caregiving abilities.”

Disclosure: See the study for a complete list of the researchers’ relevant financial disclosures.