Family Adaptation to Institutionalised Mentally Retarded Patients. A Preliminary Report on an Italian Population
In: The international journal of social psychiatry, Band 44, Heft 2, S. 135-146
ISSN: 1741-2854
Family interactive patterns were investigated in the relatives of 20 mentally retarded patients institutionalised in two centres in Northern Italy. Expressed emotion (EE) was used as evaluation instrument. The results show a surprisingly high rate (45%) of high EE, even in relatives of patients who did not live inside the family. High EE was positively correlated to the presence of behavioural disorders in the patients, as already shown for children with conduct disorders. Treatment implications are discussed; there is an opportunity for the implementation of a family psychoeduca tional approach, aimed both at managing the behavioural consequences of the disorder and at enhancing rehabilitation programmes.