STUDY OF COGNITIVE DEFICITS & DEPRESSION IN ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME

Surekha Reddy

THIS CHILD WAS BORN WITH DOWN SYNDROME

THIS CHILD WAS BORN WITH DOWN SYNDROME

Down Syndrome is a Chromosomal Disorder and is theMost common cause of Mental Retardation and Malformationin a new born.

DOWN SYNDROME IS NOT A DISEASE AND IT CANNOT BE CURED

Physical Characteristics of Down Syndrome

There are certain physical characteristics which are common in Down Syndrome. These appear in about 80% of all cases.

1. The eyes have an upward andoutward slant.

2. There is a fold of the skin on the inner side of the eye (epicanthal folds)

3. The face has a flat appearance

DOWN SYNDROME IS NOT A DISEASE AND IT CANNOT BE CURED

Physical Characteristics of Down Syndrome

There are certain physical characteristics which are common in Down Syndrome. These appear in about 80% of all cases.

4. The head is smaller than average

5. The ears are smaller and lower – set

6. The mouth is small and the lips are thin which leads to the tongue sticking out as the inside of the mouth is smaller.

7. The neck appear short.

8. The hands are broad and flat with short fingers and there is a

single crease across the palm the feet are broad with short toes

and there is a larger space than normal between the big toe

and the other toes.

Cont….

9. There is poor muscle tone (hypotonia)

10. Reflexes tend to be weaker and the cry is weak.

Cont….

THE CHILD MAY ALSO HAVE

MOTOR CLUMSINESS

CARDIAC DEFECTS

BONE ANAMOLIES

VISION PROBLEMS

THE CHILD MAY ALSO HAVE

SPEECH AND ARTICULATE PROBLEMS

UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS

HEARING PROBLEMS

THYROID DEFICIENCY

Aim

To findout the level of depression of Down syndrome individuals and their mothers and its impact on cognitive and adaptive behaviour.

Objectives

To develop the depression rating scale and assess the level of depression of Down syndrome.

To assess the cognitive function of the Down syndrome individuals.

To find out the relationship between cognitive functions and level of depression of the Down syndrome individuals.

To find out the impact of demographic variables on level of depression among the syndrome individuals.

To examine the relationship of the family support and level of depression among the Down syndrome individuals.

To find out the level of depression of the mothers of persons with Down syndrome.

HYPOTHESIS

Hypothesis 1. There will be significant difference in the level of cognitive functions between male and female Down syndrome individuals. 

Hypothesis 2. There will be significant difference in the level of depression between male and female Down syndrome individuals. 

Contd…

Hypothesis 3. There will be significant difference in the level of depression between the Down syndrome individuals living in Joint and Nuclear family.

Hypothesis 4. There will be significant relationship between the cognitive function and the depression of the Down syndrome individuals

Contd…..

 Hypothesis 5. There will be significant difference in the level of depression between Down syndrome individuals belong to different socio economic status.

 Hypothesis 6. There would be significant difference in the level of depression among the different age groups of mothers of the children with Down syndrome.

METHOD OF INVESTIGATION

Sampling Design: Purposive sampling technique is used to collect the data.

Research Design: This is study is cross sectional explorative in nature.

SAMPLING PROCEDURE

Special School

Initial screening by Neuropsychiatries

Interview with parents

Selection of samples

Contd……

Informed consent from parents

Administration of Assessment tools

Total Sample

Tools used for the study

Down syndrome Depression Rating Scale Surekha Reddy 2006

Wechsler Adult Performance Intelligence Scale (WAPIS-PR)

Prabha Ramalinga Swami (Adapted

Vineland Social Maturity Scale Edward adoll adapted 1974

 Family Assessment Device (FAD) Epstein et al 1983

Depression Inventory Beck revised 1971

Table No.1 Shows N, Mean, S. D, and ‘t’ Value for level of cognitive functions of the male and female

down syndrome individuals.

Group N Mean S.D ‘t’ Value Level of Significance

Female 35 47.04 7.04

1.32

Not significant

Male 45 49.02 7.88

Table No.2 Shows the correlation between the cognitive functions and level of Depression

Variable N ‘r’ Level of Significance

Intelligence

80 0.72 0.01

Depression

Table No.3 Shows the N, Mean, S.D, and ‘t’ value of level of Depression between Male and

Female individuals v

Group N Mean S.D ‘t’ Value Level of Significance

Female 35 47.07 6.21

3.53 0.01

Male 45 51.49 6.23

Table No.4 Shows N, mean, S.D, and ‘t’ value for level of depression of individuals with Down

syndrome living in different family type

Group N Mean S.D ‘t’ Value Level of Significance

Joint 15 38.74 9.10

5.22 0.01

Nuclear 65 49.60 4.15

Table No.5Showing the analyses of variance of the level of depression among with the

different age groups of mothers of the children with Down syndrome

Source Variation

Sum of Squares

df Mean Square

F Level of Significance

Treatments 266.107 3 88.702

2.98 0.05Within Treatments

2848.402

96 26.670

Total 3114.51 99

Table No.6Shows mean, S.D, and ‘t’ level of depression between Down syndrome individual

belong to different socio economic status

Group N Mean S.D ‘t’ Value Level of significance

HM 20 40.10 6.06

6.73 0.01UMI 60 49.33 6.70

Findings

1. There was no significant difference in the level of cognitive functions between male and female DSI

2. There was a significant relationship between intelligence and depression

3. There was significant difference in the level of Depression between male and female DSI

Contd…

4. There was significant difference in the level of Depression between the Down syndrome individuals. living in joint and nuclear family

5. There was significant difference in the level of Depression among the difference age groups of mothers of Down syndrome individuals

6. There was significant difference in the level of Depression between the Down syndrome individuals belong to different socio economic status

Conclusion

The adults with Down syndrome suffer cognitive deficits and also have early onset of depression.

The mothers of the children with Down syndrome also suffer from psychological problems.

Limitations of the Study

1. Time factor was constrain the study

2. The study has been restricted only on adults with Down syndrome.

3. Counseling the parents was difficult and time consuming

Implications and Suggestions

The present study found certain relationship between cognitive and psychological problems; this provides an insight and awareness to understand the problems adults with Down syndrome are going through.

This awareness will be helpful for the teachers, special educators, social workers, Rehabilitative Psychologists and parents to start a comprehensive intervention at an early stage.

THANK YOU

Surekha Reddy