The Presentation of Mental Illness in Mentally Retarded Adults

Abstract

SummaryA survey of 1507 mentally handicapped adults in a long-stay hospital, three-quarters of whom were severely subnormal, led to the identification of 42 (2.8 per cent of the total group) with a current typical affective illness. Non-verbal criteria were used so that such conditions could be recognized at any level. Schizophrenia could be diagnosed only on verbally expressed symptoms and was found in 27 (1.8 per cent) of the patients, none of whom was preverbal in mental level. Forty-one (2.7 per cent) had an atypical affective illness superimposed on an early childhood psychosis. Half of these patients were preverbal, so that the pattern of their illness was particularly difficult to recognize.

Handbook of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

“…Third, the types of psychiatric disorders evident among persons with ID generally represent the full range of diagnostic classifications. However, there does appear to be some differences in prevalence of specific disorders as a function of the level of ID (Eaton & Menolascino, 1982;Koller et al, 1983;Lund, 1985;Phillips & Williams, 1975;Reid, 1976Reid, , 1980Wright, 1982). Given such comprehensive investigation, there remains no question regarding the occurrence of mental disorders among some persons with ID (Iverson & Fox, 1989;Lewis & MacLean, 1982;Matson & Sevin, 1994), and that the disorders cross the broad spectrum of psychopathology.…”

“…However, other clinicians refute these views. Wright (1982) reported a 1.8% prevalence rate of schizophrenia in institutionalized individuals with ID, while figures at the other end of the spectrum are 14% (Eaton & Menolascino, 1982). Perhaps the most persistent prevalence rate found in the literature is 3% and this figure has become widely accepted as the most accurate rate of the number of people with schizophrenia within the ID population.…”

Cognitive‐behaviour formulation for three men with learning disabilities who experience psychosis: how do we make it make sense?

“…The estimates of psychosis in people with learning disabilities are not all that clear but there are suggestions of a rate of 3% compared with 1% in the normal population (Reid 1972; Royal College of Psychiatrists 2001; Wright 1982). Reiss & Benson (1985) suggested people with learning disabilities may be more exposed to depression because of reduced social contact.…”

A naturalistic study in the use of antidepressants in adults with learning disabilities and affective disorders

“…However, most estimates are in the range of 1-5 per cent (Wright, 1982). These difficulties are compounded by the lack of valid and reliable diagnostic criteria especially for people with severe/profound learning disabilities and those with limited/compromised communication skills.…”