Psychological stress in people with profound mental retardation.

Does emotional stress in people with profound mental retardation occur and does it result from simple stimuli of daily living? Can this be measured by recording vital signs? To obtain answers, the histories of stress and stress diseases, and the behavioral characteristics of 163 institutionalized adults with developmental disabilities were evaluated; vital signs, temperatures and bodily expressions of 35 subjects from this sample were monitored. All but two of the 35 subjects had elevations of heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, core body temperature, and changes in peripheral temperature. Reactions occurred with unpleasant and pleasurable stimuli, and were greatest at clinical examinations and when the subjects were stared at. Responses were best demonstrated by heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure and temperature. Such reactions result from the insecurity of people whose disabilities prevent them from adjusting to perceived threats.