Physical and mental health of young people with and without intellectual disabilities: cross‐sectional analysis of a whole country population

Abstract

This largest-to-date study quantifies the extent of the substantial health disparities experienced by young people with intellectual disabilities compared with people without intellectual disabilities. The young population with intellectual disabilities have substantial health problems; therefore, transition between child and adult services must be carefully planned in order to ensure that existing health conditions are managed and emerging problems minimised.

Transitions from child to adult health care for young people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review

“…Papers demonstrating high quality, with a score of 17 or more, was achieved by eight of the 12 studies (Barron, Molosankwe, Romeo, & Hassiotis, ; Bindels‐de Heus, van Staa, van Vliet, Ewals, & Hilberink, ; Davies et al., ; Jensen & Davis, ; Kuchenbuch, Chemaly, Chiron, Dulac, & Nabbout, ; Okumura, Saunders, & Rehm, ; Schultz, ; Young‐Southward, Rydzewska, Philo, & Cooper, ). Two studies achieved a moderate score of between 14 and 16 (Rehm, Fuentes‐Afflick, Fisher, & Chesla, ; Woodward, Swigonski, & Ciccarelli, ).…”

“…A total of seven studies used quantitative methods: cross‐sectional design N = 6 (Barron et al., ; Bindels‐de Heus et al., ; Camfield et al., ; Kuchenbuch et al., ; Woodward et al., ; Young‐Southward et al., ) and longitudinal, observational cohort design N = 1 (Jensen & Davis, ). Four studies employed qualitative methods: interpretative design N = 1 (Davies et al., ), ethnography N = 1 (Rehm et al., ), and grounded theory N = 2 (Okumura et al., ; Schultz et al., 2013).…”

Transition to adult mental health services for young people with an intellectual disability

“…In a subsequent whole of population study in the UK, during transition, people with ID were more likely to experience a mental health condition, chronic health condition, physical disability, sensory impairment/s and limitations in daily activities than people without ID . Furthermore, among people with ID, those aged 19–24 years were more likely than those aged 13–18 years to experience a mental health condition, indicating a critical period of vulnerability for this group . This is supported by a qualitative study by the same authors demonstrating that parents of young people with ID identify mental health as a significant issue of concern for their child as they transition into adulthood .…”

“…Our study using New South Wales ambulatory mental health data indicated that, in the years 2005–2010, people with ID had a greater number of ambulatory mental health face‐to‐face contacts and that total face‐to‐face contact time was more than twice that of people without ID. As such, it is appropriate that national policy documents specifically mention this group and address issues around the period of transition to adulthood where they are known to be most vulnerable . These documents would be strengthened, and the needs of people with ID better met, with the inclusion of specific principles and recommendations for managing the transition of younger people with ID to adult‐oriented mental health care.…”

“…Transition to adult health services, and more specifically mental health services, is an especially critical period for children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID). In general, children and adolescents with ID experience high rates of mental ill health and are at increased risk of mental health disorders during the period of transition to adulthood . Given the increased vulnerability of this group during transition, it is especially important that the transition of care from paediatric to adult mental health services is well managed.…”