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Expressed Emotion in the Families of the Mentally Handicapped: A Pilot Study

The birth of a mentally handicapped child to a couple is a traumatic event. It has even been compared with a bereavement. In the crisis of family handicap, however, there is also anxiety, fright, guilt and shame. Some of these reactions have been denied by families but it has to be borne in mind that mothers of abnormal babies, although they are not aware of it consciously, may be protective and dominant (Prechtl, 1963). The reactions of parents of mentally handicapped may swing from extremes of over-protection to complete rejection. On the other hand, there is stress both emotional and physical in looking after the handicapped day in, day out. The amount of the emotional stress has not been quantified, but of the many forms of interactions between parent and offspring, over-involvement, criticism, hostility, and warmth can be evaluated using the Expressed Emotional scales.