Deinstitutionalization as a crisis event for families of mentally retarded persons

Structured interviews were conducted to determine the extent to which families of the mentally retarded experience a crisis upon deinstitutionalization of a family member. The results indicate that approximately 50% of the families experience a crisis, even if their family member is not returned to their home. Highly structured families, as measured by the Family Environment Scale, are the least likely to experience crisis.