Cerebral palsy (CP) is a congenital neurodevelopmental disorder, due to non-progressive disability it prolongs throughout ages. Mental health of the caregivers of CP children is affected due to prolong treatment of the child. Keeping in mind the long term multiple disability in cerebral palsy much focus in earlier researches were given to the rehabilitation of the child and less attention is given to address the mental health issues of caregivers of cerebral palsy children. The current study is based on identifying the mental health issues like depression, caregiver burden and burnout among caregivers of CP children and how sense of coherence and social support have impact on the mental wellbeing of caregivers of CP children. After measuring the level of mental health issues of care givers of cerebral palsy children, the present study also aimed at rehabilitation of the caregivers of cerebral palsy children with the help of positive psychotherapy in rehabilitation unit. The positive psychotherapy based interventions will be translated and adapted in Urdu language for the present study. According to the literature review no such positive psychotherapy based techniques used on caregivers of CP Children in Pakistan. Positive Psychotherapy is selected as an interventional therapy in the present study and for the first time it has been planned for this sample in Pakistan. Core focus of positive psychotherapy is to move away the client from negative aspect of life and focus them towards the positive aspects of life. If positive psychotherapy treatment is effective as compared to traditional treatment approach it will be cost effective and will reduce caregiver burden, depression and burnout.
The Central idea of the proposed research proposal is first to translate adapt and validate the Caregiver Difficulties Scale & Positive Psychotherapy sessions based manual into Urdu language then secondly, assessment of burnout, burden, depression, mental wellbeing, sense of coherence and social support among caregivers of Cerebral palsy children and finally measuring the effectiveness of Positive Psychotherapy for treating mental health issues of caregivers of Cerebral Palsy children. This research proposal will provide an Urdu language based standardized positive psycho therapeutic based intervention to mental health practitioners for treating mental health issues of caregivers of cerebral palsy children in sociocultural context of Pakistan. In Pakistan earlier conducted researches mainly focused on assessment of mental health issues of caregivers of cerebral palsy children, however present research will not only assess the sample regarding their mental health issues, but in addition it will also contribute in provision of psychometrically sound Urdu language based positive Psychotherapy. Positive Psychotherapy focuses on positive emotions and personal strengths instead of ruminating over weaknesses.