An investigation of the effects of bereavement on mental health and challenging behaviour in adults with learning disability

Abstract

Summary The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of bereavement on people with learning disability. Twenty adults with learning disabilities who had experienced the death of a primary caregiver in the previous 2 years were compared with a matched control group on measures of psychiatric disturbance and challenging behaviour. With regard to psychiatric disturbance, significant differences were found for ‘neurotic disorder’ and for ‘organic condition’ among the bereaved group on the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with a Developmental Disability (PAS‐ADD). No difference was found for ‘psychotic disorder’ on the PAS‐ADD. As regards challenging behaviour, significant differences were found for ‘irritability’, ‘lethargy’ and ‘hyperactivity’ among the bereaved group on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). No differences were found for ‘stereotypy’ or ‘inappropriate speech’ on the ABC. The clinical implications of these findings are outlined, and recommendations for supporting people with learning disabilities who experience bereavement are presented.

Living Disconnected: Building a Grounded Theory View of Bereavement for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

“…The types of interventions requested are in accord with the support and interventions provided by the bereavement counselors who participated in the study. My data also fit with Bonnell-Pascual et al's (1999) findings about extended periods of loss, multitudes of life changes, and the expressions of grief in addition to MacHale and Carey's (2002) findings of mental health and behavior affects of bereavement for adults with IDD.…”

“…Despite the groundbreaking work of MacHale and Carey (2002) and BonnellPascual et al (1999), more needs to be known about the grief experience of adults with IDD. When we review life stories of adults with IDD, it becomes obvious that grief and isolation are often constant companions.…”

How Adults With an Intellectual Disability Experience Bereavement and Grief: A Qualitative Exploration

“…Significant secondary losses for PWID include the loss of their primary carer and the related loss of their home (Hollins & Esterhuyzen, 1997;MacHale & Carey, 2002), as well as fewer visitors and daytime activities; changes in roommate and employment status and less money (Harper & Wadsworth, 1993).…”

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing in the treatment of trauma with mild intellectual disabilities: a case study

“…Tomasulo and Razza (2007), comment that in spite of its importance, studies on PTSD in people with intellectual disabilities are not as common as in populations of people with standard intellectual functioning. The prevalence of physical and sexual abuse and trauma has, however, been acknowledged (Fenwick, 1994;Cook and Sinason, 1998;Hollins and Sinason, 2000;Sinason, 2002;MacHale and Carey, 2002).…”