Efficacy of psychological intervention on problems of siblings of mental retarded children

Background: The prevalence of emotional - behavioral disorders in the normal sibling of
mental disabled children is 1/6 –2 times as the normal population. This can affect deeply the
future of these children. The aim of this research is to consider cognitive- behavioral
intervention as a way to decrease the sibling’s problem.
Methods and Materials: This study was performed as randomized clinical trials on 32
siblings (aged between 6-12 year old) of mental disabled children in 2003 in child guidance
clinic, Isfahan. The data collection tool included clinical interview according to DSM-IV- TR
criteria and Rutters questionnaire.
Results: Generally, the prevalence of emotional- behavioral problems of siblings of mental
disabled children were 53.2 percent, the mean score for Rutters questionnaire was 17.08±5.6
and 14.66±5.63 before and after intervention respectively (P=0.001). But there wasn’t
significant difference between pre and post test in control group (P= 0.4)
Conclusions: The results showed that cognitive and behavioral interventions, reduces the
emotional and behavioral problems in the sibling of mental disabled children.