Abstract:

Objective: This study is planned in order to assess the depression, anxiety and stres coping strategies of the mothers whose children are mentally-disabled Material and Methods: 50 patients among the mothers of mentally-disabled children and 50 controls among the mothers of healthy children, were involved in the study. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) was used to assess current psychiatric disorders. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-D) were applied. Besides, Stress Coping Strategies Scale (COPE) was applied in order to assess the patients’ strategies of coping with problems. Results: The median score (minumum-maximum) which they got from Hamilton Depression Rating Scale is 6 which is evaluated statistically-significant compared to the score of the control group of which score is 4.5 . The median score which the patients got from Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale is 7.0 which is evaluated statisticallysignificant compared to the score of control group of which score is 5.0 . It is found out that the patients involved in the study use denial and behavioral ignorance more than the control group when they are assessed according to their strategies of coping with problems. Conclusion: Families are mostly inadequate in the process of coping with this dense, stressful and long-term problem and they have some different behavioral and emotional problems. Therefore, it is important to support the families, especially the mothers who give primary care to the child

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