BEREAVEMENT AND GRIEF IN ADULTS WITH LEARNING-DISABILITIES

Background This paper reports the results of the first systematic stud y of the reaction of people with learning disabilities to bereavement. Method A sample of 50 parent-bereaved people with learning disabiliti es was compared with a matched control group of 50 non-bereaved people . A semi-structured bereavement questionnaire was used along with the following instruments: the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC), the Psy chopathology Instrument for Mentally Retarded Adults (PIMRA) and the l ife Events Checklist. Results Highly significant differences are demon strated between bereaved and non-bereaved samples on both the total sc ores and most of the subscores of the ABC and PIMRA. Staff and carers did not usually attribute behaviour problems to the bereavement and it s concomitant life events, nor was there a recognition of psychopathol ogy due to bereavement. Conclusions The impact in terms of psychiatric and behavioural morbidity of loss of a parent, with its concomitant l ife events, in adults with learning disabilities has been underestimat ed.