Chronic sorrow revisited: parent vs. professional depiction of the adjustment of parents of mentally retarded children.

In response to a questionnaire mailing, parents of mentally retarded children and social workers essentially agreed that such parents experience periodic crises during the child's development, rather than time-bound adjustment. Social workers tended to underestimate the impact on parents of later developmental periods. Clinical implications of the findings, which run counter to the prevalent professional view, are considered.