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Mental illness, problem behaviour, needs and service use in adults with intellectual disability

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Mental ill health in adults with intellectual disability (ID) is a neglected field in psychiatry and thus still widely understudied. This paper provides data on the prevalence of mental illness and problem behaviour and analyses support needs, mental health service use and psychotropic medication in a representative sample of adults with mild to moderate ID.

Methods

A set of well-established instruments was used to assess the main parameters in n = 371 participants recruited within a cross-sectional epidemiological multicentre study using a stratified randomised cluster sampling.

Results

Point prevalence of mental disorders was 10.8 %, that of problem behaviour 45.3 %. Most study participants needed help in specific lower order need areas (e.g., money budgeting, food, accommodation), and these need areas were mostly rated as met. The highest ratios of unmet to met need were found with respect to sexuality issues and with respect to mental health problems. The focus of psychiatric treatment was psychotropic medication.

Conclusions

Referring to ICD-10 based diagnostic criteria and consequently avoiding confusing problem behaviour with mental disorders, point prevalence of mental disorders was lower than in the general population. A systematic deficit in meeting mental health problems in adults with ID indicates the need for implementing strategies to maximise the quality of identification and management of mental disorders.

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Acknowledgments

This work is part of the study “Mental health care provision for adults with mental retardation and a psychiatric diagnosis (MEMENTA)” which has been funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (Grant number 01GY1134). We are grateful for the work of all interviewers and for the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) for their financial support. We appreciate the great support of participating ID services and all persons with ID and their family members for their participation in the MEMENTA-Study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Matthias Schützwohl, Andrea Koch, Andrea Pfennig & Anke Vogel

  2. Department of Psychiatry II, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany

    Nadine Koslowski & Bernd Puschner

  3. Mental Health Services Research Group, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany

    Elke Voß & Hans Joachim Salize

Authors
  1. Matthias Schützwohl
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  2. Andrea Koch
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  3. Nadine Koslowski
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  4. Bernd Puschner
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  5. Elke Voß
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  6. Hans Joachim Salize
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  7. Andrea Pfennig
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  8. Anke Vogel
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Correspondence to Matthias Schützwohl.

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Schützwohl, M., Koch, A., Koslowski, N. et al. Mental illness, problem behaviour, needs and service use in adults with intellectual disability. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 51, 767–776 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1197-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1197-4

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