Experience in emotional support with supportive psychothery groups for mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability at the University Hospital Mútua de Terrassa

Abstract

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be accompanied by comorbidities that increase its severity, with behavioral alterations, psychomotor crises, aggressive behavior or self-harm being the main causes of hospitalization. Parent’s management of behavioral alterations can be emotionally exhausting. Caregivers present high rates of anxiety and affective symptoms that affect their daily functioning and the care of their children. Many of them lose family support, friends, jobs and face a general worsening of their quality of life. Objectives: A group intervention was designed with the aim of creating a support network and increase self-care and self-esteem of the parents of children with ASD and intellectual disability. A six-week psychotherapeutic group was held in which nine mothers of children with ASD and intellectual disability participated. These patients were monitored in outpatient clinics of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health service of the Mútua de Terrassa University Hospital. Perceived parental stress was measured before and after the psychotherapeutic intervention using the Parental Stress Scale by Oronoz et al., as well as the Perceived Stress Questionnaire. Methods: A descriptive analysis of the socio-biographical data of the families that participated in the study was carried out and the pre- and post-intervention results were analyzed in order to see the group’s impact on the emotional state of the mothers. Results: A reduction in feelings of loneliness, lack of energy and negative cognitions of the future was observed, concluding that it is essential to create psychotherapeutic spaces.