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Bereavement and grief in adults with learning disabilities

A follow-up study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Enrique Bonell-Pascual ,
Sarah Huline-Dickens ,
Sheila Hollins ,
Alexander Esterhuyzen ,
Philip Sedgwick ,
Adam Abdelnoor  and
Jane Hubert
Enrique Bonell-Pascual
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry of Disability, St George's Hospital Medical School, London
Sarah Huline-Dickens
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry of Disability, St George's Hospital Medical School, London
Sheila Hollins*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry of Disability, St George's Hospital Medical School, London
Alexander Esterhuyzen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry of Disability, St George's Hospital Medical School, London
Philip Sedgwick
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry of Disability, St George's Hospital Medical School, London
Adam Abdelnoor
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry of Disability, St George's Hospital Medical School, London
Jane Hubert
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry of Disability, St George's Hospital Medical School, London
*
Professor S. Hollins, Department of Psychiatry of Disability, St George's Hospital Medical School, Jenner Wing, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE. Tel: 020 8725 5501; e-mail: s.hollins@sghms.ac.uk
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Abstract

Background

This paper reports on the follow-up of a cohort of parentally bereaved adults with learning disabilities.

Aims

To investigate whether significant psychopathology, present up to 2.1 years after the death, had resolved five years later.

Method

Of an original sample of 50 adults with learning disabilities, 41 were reassessed. The Aberrant Behaviour Checklist and the Psychopathology Instrument for Mentally Retarded Adults were re-administered to carers.

Results

At follow-up, there was a small increase in the measures of aberrant behaviour. Measures of psychopathology showed improvement, and in particular there was a reduction in anxiety.

Conclusions

The response to bereavement by adults with learning disabilities is similar in type, though not in expression, to that of the general population. Learning disability is a significant predictor of mental health problems following bereavement. Participants adapted more easily when basic emotional needs had been constructively met by carers.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 175 , Issue 4 , October 1999 , pp. 348 - 350
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

Declaration of interest

No external funding.

References

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