THE MENTAL HEALTH OF SIBLINGS OF GONGENITALLY ABNORMAL CHILDREN

Abstract

SUMMARY (1) An index group of 36 school‐age siblings of children with Down's Syndrome and another index group of 35 school‐age siblings of children with cleft lip/palate were compared with 71 individually matched school children. (2) Behavioural questionnaires (Rutter Scales A2 and B2) were completed by parents and teacher for all index siblings and controls. (3) No significant difference in behavioural rating was found between either index group and their controls. (4) At parental interview it was found that families of children with Down's Syndrome were experiencing more problems of management than families of children with cleft lip/palate deformities.