What Is Intellectual Disability
Intellectual disability is a developmental disorder not a mental illness.
A person with intellectual disability:
- has an IQ of about 70 or less
- often needs help with basic skills including communication, self-care, safety and self-direction
- has demonstrated problems with these skills since they were a child.
People with intellectual disability may find it harder to:
- understand concepts and ideas
- work things out and solve problems
- concentrate
- remember things.
Illness Severity And Service Use By People With Co
In keeping with the literature, we found that people with a dual diagnosis had a more severe psychiatric illness than those with a psychiatric diagnosis aloneReference Bouras, Martin, Leese, Vanstraelen, Holt, Thomas, Hindler and Boardman36 including an earlier age at first contact with psychiatric services, more in-patient admissions and more in-patient days. These differences were particularly pronounced in those with schizophrenia co-occurring with intellectual disability. Indications that this is not an artefact arising from long periods of institutional care due to co-occurring intellectual disability include a higher median number of admissions in addition to a higher median number of in-patient days in the dual-diagnosis group. An alternative hypothesis, that the difference in severity is because only individuals with a dual diagnosis with the most severe psychiatric illness are able to access generic mental health services, could not be tested here.
Comparing Mental Illness And Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities
When I first started working for Thompson Policy Institute, I lacked an understanding of the nuances between different types of disabilities. Without even realizing it, I had lumped together very different conditions into similar categories and after doing some reading, I see why I was confused! The classification between intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illnesses can be blurry. Intellectual and developmental disabilities can co-occur simultaneously with mental illness, so drawing distinctions can be a challenge. Nevertheless, this post will serve to provide some clarity between the different types of intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illnesses people live with everyday.
Developmental disabilities
According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention , developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language or behavior areas. Developmental disabilities include specific conditions like autism spectrum disorder , vision impairment, ADHD, cerebral palsy and hearing loss. Some developmental disabilities begin before birth but all occur during the developmental period and continue throughout the persons life. Developmental disabilities can be either physical or intellectual in nature, so some extra clarification is used around cognitive-specific intellectual disabilities.
Intellectual Disabilities
Mental Illness
You May Like: How To Tell If Someone Has An Eating Disorder
Intellectual Disability And Other Psychiatric Disorders
Persons with intellectual disabilities often have other psychiatric diagnoses. When more than one disorder is diagnosed at the same time, they are called co-morbid or co-occurring disorders.
Recall that there are many causes of intellectual disabilities. One set of causes are certain psychiatric conditions. The most common psychiatric condition associated with ID is the autism spectrum disorder . There are two primary symptoms associated with ASD. The first is severe and persistent communication problems. The second is restrictive or repetitive behavior. These unnecessary, repetitive behaviors often interfere with everyday life. These behaviors may involve self-injurious movements. Sometimes restraints and/or protective gear are necessary to prevent injuries.
Another psychiatric condition that commonly co-occurs with ID is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, . ADHD symptoms include inattention, impulsivity, and fidgeting. Individuals with ADHD have difficulty with organization. They often lose things and struggle to complete tasks. This is especially true with tasks requiring concentration and sustained effort. ADHD is diagnosed in 8% to15% of children with ID. However, 17% to 52% of adults with ID may qualify for ADHA diagnosis. This range is quite large because studies disagree on the prevalence of co-morbid ADHD and ID. ADHD symptoms are sometime difficult to distinguish from ID.
Psychotic Symptoms In People With Intellectual Disability
I commend Sami and colleagues for the topic and scope of their article on psychotic symptoms in non-specialist settings, which is well suited to a broad audience.1 Compressing such a large amount of information into a concise Practice Pointer inevitably results in omissions, and, in this case, the opportunity was missed to inform non-specialist readers of the difficulties in identifying psychosis in those with intellectual or learning disabilities. This is a marginalised group of patients, in whom mental health problems are not always recognised or diagnosed.
People with intellectual or learning difficulties are at risk of developing psychosis.23 Diagnostic overshadowing and the overarching term challenging behaviour may misdirect a clinician away from considering underlying mental illness . So non-specialists should be aware of this possibility.
Ascertaining a psychotic diagnosis is difficult in those with more severe intellectual or learning disabilities.5 Even specialised classification systems have limitations. A stronger emphasis on reports from carers is often required.
You May Like: Is Homophobia A Real Phobia
Intellectual Disability Vs Mental Illness
Confusion about the difference between mental illness and intellectual disability is common in the justice system. Some people with intellectual disability may also experience mental illness but the two conditions are very different.
Differences between intellectual disability and mental illness
Does Sz Cause Intellectual Disability
I feel that I got mild intellectual disability from sz, pretty sure I can have a diagnosis of mild intellectual disability but its useless, no treatments for that.
Maybe but I still had negative and cognitive symptoms when I stopped meds for 1-2 years.
my main cognitive issue is poor working memory and that creating lot of ocd issues. if you are concerned about long term memory then some supplements like phosphatidylserine will help. for executive function best strategy is to make daily habits and stick to those strictly also making a list and doing it one by one useful, externalize the list rather than doing it in mind.
Intelligence is the general mental capacity that involves reasoning, planning, solving problems, thinking abstractly, comprehending complex ideas, learning efficiently, and learning from experience . Historically, intellectual disability…
Ive felt like I lost 40-50 IQ points right now. Its just a feeling. Its most likely less. Its the disease. Everyone is different.
Think its mostly being distracted.
I think I have a higher IQ than what is stated in my reports. I might not be educational intelligent but have social intelligence and street smarts.
I cant manage money as I spend it all in a day. My parents control my money. I have inappropriate emotions sometimes laughing at sad things or when ppl get hurt like falling or in funerals. Do these happen to you?
Don’t Miss: Is Binge Eating An Eating Disorder
Are Cerebral Palsy And Schizophrenia Linked
A 2019 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that people with cerebral palsy are more likely to develop schizophrenia than those without.
Men with cerebral palsy were four times as likely to develop schizophrenia and women with cerebral palsy were five times as likely, according to the study.
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong disorder caused by brain damage early in life .It can lead to a variety of physical and mental health problems such as difficulty walking and learning disorders.
Schizophrenia is a very serious mental health condition that causes hallucinations, delusions, and disorderly thoughts. Like cerebral palsy, it affects people for the rest of their lives.
Because of the increased risk, parents of children with cerebral palsy should learn more about schizophrenia. This can help parents make better choices about their childs health care.
Mental Illness And Intellectual Disability
Approximately 1.5% of all Ohioans have been diagnosed with an intellectual disability, and approximately one third of these individuals have a co-occurring diagnosis of mental illness. The co-occurrence of an intellectual disability and a mental illness is generally termed a dual diagnosis. In 2004, the Ohio Department Mental Health and Addiction Services and Wright State University partnered to provide resources in support of excellent treatment and care of individuals with a dual diagnosis. The result of this partnership is the Mental Illness/Intellectual Disabilities Coordinating Center of Excellence .
The CCOE provides administrative and clinical support and education, specialized psychiatric assessment and client specific consultation, and technical assistance in support of developing local collaboration. One example of local collaboration includes Mental Illness/Intellectual Disability Teams which are described below.
Also Check: What The Bible Says About Fear And Anxiety
What Is An Idd/mi Dual Diagnosis
An IDD/MI dual diagnos refers to individuals with an intellectual/developmental disability who concurrently experience a mental health condition. While the exact prevalence is unknown, most professionals accept that roughly 35% of people with intellectual disabilities also experience mental health challenges.
How Common Are Intellectual Disabilities
Approximately 6.5 million people in the United States have an intellectual disability. Approximately 1 3 percent of the global population has an intellectual disabilityas many as 200 million people.
Intellectual disability is significantly more common in low-income countries16.41 in every 1,000 people. Disabilities overall are more common in low-income countries.
The United Nations Development Program estimates that 80 percent of all people with disabilities live in low-income countries. While people with disabilities represent approximately one in 10 people worldwide, they are one in every five of the worlds poorest people.
Don’t Miss: What Are The Symptoms Of Bipolar Depression
Is Schizophrenia A Learning Disability
Answer: No, a Learning Disability is not a mental illness. Learning Disabilities are neurologically-based. They result from faulty wiring in specific areas of the brain.
Is ADHD an intellectual disability?
Along with autism, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, vision impairment and others, ADHD is also considered a developmental disability.Dhul-H. 26, 1442 AH
Does schizophrenia worsen with age?
It has been commonly understood that positive symptoms of schizophrenia decline in later life, while negative symptoms dominate the presentation in older age. However, findings from several studies have invalidated this notion.Raj. 21, 1440 AH
What are 5 types of schizophrenia?
The previous version, the DSM-IV, described the following five types of schizophrenia:
- paranoid type.
- residual type.
Intellectual And Learning Disabilities
What is intellectual disability?
An intellectual disability is impaired intelligence that is measured by an IQ lower than 70. Intellectual disabilities usually present during the first eighteen years of life and may also be known as an intellectual handicap, developmental disability or learning disability. Down Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome are common causes of intellectual disabilities. It has been suggested that there is an increased risk of psychotic disorders in people with an intellectual disability. Antipsychotic medication is most commonly used to treat people with schizophrenia and intellectual disability, however there is often concern about the detrimental effects of antipsychotics on learning and cognition, and the long-term physical side effects.
What is the evidence for intellectual disability?
Moderate to high quality evidence suggests the prevalence rate of schizophrenia in people with an intellectual disability is around 3.5%. The rate is slightly higher in females and higher in mild cases of intellectual disability than in moderate or severe cases.
Moderate quality evidence suggests people with schizophrenia and mild/borderline intellectual disability may have more negative symptoms of schizophrenia than people with schizophrenia and no intellectual disability
Read Also: Does Ptsd Affect A Certain Age Group
Can Cerebral Palsy Cause Schizophrenia
It is not known if cerebral palsy can cause schizophrenia. At this time, researchers believe that a combination of bad genes and brain chemistry may lead to schizophrenia.
Recent research also suggests that complications during pregnancy may increase the risk of schizophrenia. Sadly, many pregnancy complications can cause cerebral palsy as well.
Pregnancy complications linked to cerebral palsy include:
- Fetal stroke
If more research links schizophrenia to pregnancy complications, then both conditions may share a common cause.
Mental Illness In People With Intellectual Disability
A client with intellectual disability may also have a mental illness or mental disorder.
People with intellectual disability have a disproportionately high rate of mental illness when compared with the general population and a much lower rate of treatment and care. Prevalence estimates of ‘mental disorder amongst Australian adults is 20 per cent, compared with 31.7 per cent amongst adults with intellectual disability.’
Morgan, V.A., Leonard, H., Bourke, J. and Jablensky A. , Intellectual disability co-occurring with schizophrenia and other psychiatric illness: Population based study, British Journal of Psychiatry, 193.
Mental illness and mental disorders are poorly recognised and treated in people with intellectual disability.
You should be alert to the possibility that a client with intellectual disability may also be affected by mental illness. An assessment by a psychiatrist will help to clarify whether or not your client has a mental illness.
Check whether they take any medication for mental health conditions and whether they have a treating psychiatrist.
Recommended Reading: How Long Does It Take To Get Over Ptsd
Intellectual Disability With Co
Over one in ten of individuals with dual diagnosis had intellectual disability with co-occurring schizophrenia . The percentage of all individuals with intellectual disability who developed schizophrenia was 5.2% for the 195064 birth cohort and 4.5% for the 196570 birth cohort. Conversely, 5.2% of all people with schizophrenia in the 195064 birth cohort and 3.7% in the 196579 birth cohort had intellectual disability .
What Are The Characteristics Of Profound Mental Retardation
What Are the Characteristics of Mental Retardation? The main characteristics of mental retardation include a lower-than-average intelligent quotient , difficulty with practical daily life skills, learning difficulties or disabilities, developmental delays, memory problems and lower attention spans .
Recommended Reading: Why Is Anxiety Worse In The Morning
Schizophrenia In People With Intellectual Disability: The Role Of Pregnancy And Birth Complications
J. M. O’Dwyer
Department of Psychiatry, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, England
J. M. O’Dwyer
Department of Psychiatry, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, England
Get access to the full version of this article.You previously purchased this article through ReadCube.
Institutional Login
Log in to Wiley Online Library
If you have previously obtained access with your personal account, please log in.
- View the article/chapter PDF and any associated supplements and figures for a period of 48 hours.
- Article/Chapter can not be printed.
- Article/Chapter can not be downloaded.
- Article/Chapter can not be redistributed.
- Unlimited viewing of the article/chapter PDF and any associated supplements and figures.
- Article/Chapter can not be printed.
- Article/Chapter can not be downloaded.
- Article/Chapter can not be redistributed.
- Unlimited viewing of the article/chapter PDF and any associated supplements and figures.
- Article/chapter can be printed.
How Does An Intellectual Disability Happen
Intellectual disabilityformerly known as mental retardationcan be caused by injury, disease, or a problem in the brain. For many children, the cause of their intellectual disability is unknown.
Some causes of intellectual disabilitysuch as Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, birth defects, and infectionscan happen before birth. Some happen while a baby is being born or soon after birth.
Other causes of intellectual disability do not occur until a child is older these might include severe head injury, infections or stroke.
You May Like: What Helps With Anxiety At Night
Psychiatric Assessment And Consultation Services
The MI/DD CCOE offers expert evaluation and consultation for individuals who are dually diagnosed. These services are available through the CCOE for individuals of all ages throughout the state to assist the provider, the treatment team, the prescriber and others in determining the best approach for an individuals treatment and support. These are comprehensive psychiatric assessments that can be completed either in-person or through video technology.
To schedule an Assessment or Consultation please contact:
What Are The Most Common Causes
The most common causes of intellectual disabilities are:
Genetic conditions. Sometimes an intellectual disability is caused by abnormal genes inherited from parents, errors when genes combine, or other reasons. Examples of genetic conditions are Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, and phenylketonuria .
Complications during pregnancy. An intellectual disability can result when the baby does not develop inside the mother properly. For example, there may be a problem with the way the babys cells divide. A woman who drinks alcohol or gets an infection like rubella during pregnancy may also have a baby with an intellectual disability.
Problems during birth. If there are complications during labor and birth, such as a baby not getting enough oxygen, he or she may have an intellectual disability.
Diseases or toxic exposure. Diseases like whooping cough, the measles, or meningitis can cause intellectual disabilities. They can also be caused by extreme malnutrition, not getting appropriate medical care, or by being exposed to poisons like lead or mercury.
We know that intellectual disability is not contagious: you cant catch an intellectual disability from anyone else. We also know its not a type of mental illness, like depression. There are no cures for intellectual disability. However, children with intellectual disabilities can learn to do many things. They may just need take more time or learn differently than other children.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Out Of Depression
What Is Psychosis With Mental Retardation
Psychology Definition of PSYCHOSIS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION: Psychotic episodes that occur in people with mental retardation. These could be excitement, depression or even paranoia. The conditions may recur. The
How many types of schizophrenia disorders?
There are 5 types of schizophrenia as recognized by the DSM and although many have similar general symptoms, there are various features that can distinguish one subtype from the others. A diagnosis of schizophrenia is made in accordance to
Is schizophrenia a psychological disorder?
Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia, also known as Schizophrenic Disorder, is a psychological disorder, thought to be caused by imbalances in brain chemistry, which involves delusions and faulty perceptions of the world. People suffering from schizophrenia often hear voices in their head and have delusions of grandeur.
What Is An Intellectual Disability
Intellectual disability is a term used when a person has certain limitations in cognitive functioning and skills, including communication, social and self-care skills. These limitations can cause a child to develop and learn more slowly or differently than a typically developing child. Intellectual disability can happen any time before a child turns 18 years old, even before birth.
Intellectual disability is the most common developmental disability.
According to the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, an individual has intellectual disability if he or she meets three criteria:
Don’t Miss: Why Does Binge Eating Disorder Occur