The portfolio has three parts.Part One is a systematic literature review concerning the nature and severity of the psychological distress experienced by carers (primarily parents) of people with Muscular Dystrophy. Quantitative and qualitative studies investigating distress in these carers have been reviewed and critically evaluated to draw conclusions and implications for clinical practice. Part Two is an empirical paper aimed at creating a cognitive profile for people suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in the advanced stages of the illness. The focus of this cross-sectional study is placed on the investigation of whether hypoventilation, inevitably seen to develop in this population, is related to permanent cognitive deficits in memory and/or executive functioning. The participants who have been identified to suffer from hypoventilation (N=17) are compared on measures of memory and executive functioning to a group of DMD participants of similar age (N=16) who have not yet developed hypoventilation. Other measures are also taken in the form of questionnaires to compare the groups on, including demographics, mood (depression and anxiety), health-related quality of life, sleepiness, and beliefs about sleep. Part Three comprises the Appendices.