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Siblings of mentally disabled at risk

Posted on: Wednesday, 10 December 2008, 17:56 CST

Siblings of the mentally disabled face their own lifelong challenges, putting them at higher risk for depression, U.S. researchers say.

University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers found people with a sibling with low IQ are more likely to live near that brother or sister -- but be somewhat emotionally detached from that sibling.

So little is known about the impact that a person with low IQ or mental illness has on the psychological and social development of his or her siblings, especially beyond childhood, lead author Julie Lounds Taylor said in a statement. Our findings highlight the need for families of the mentally ill, specifically siblings, to be more aware of their own mental health needs throughout their lifetimes.

The researchers identified 351 people from a 46-year longitudinal study who had at least one sibling with a mental disability. The disabled siblings were divided into two categories: those with a low IQ -- under 85 -- and those who had been diagnosed with a mental illness, specifically a depressive or anxiety disorder.

The study, published in the Journal of Family Psychology, found people who had siblings with mental illnesses were 63 percent more likely to report having a depressive episode during their lifetime.

The siblings were found to live closer to their low-IQ brother or sister. However, physical proximity is often offset by a lower level of emotional attachment, the study said.

Source: United Press International

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