Oxford Textbook of the Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Intellectual Disability (ID), a lifelong condition characterized by an impairment of intellectual functioning and deficits in adaptive skills is part of a spectrum of developmental disorders which also includes other conditions like autism and ADHD. While psychiatric problems are three to four times more common in those with ID, diagnosing it can be fraught with difficulties due to associated communication problems, atypical presentations, overlap with physical conditions, and experience of marginalization and abuse. In addition, treatment approaches may be different and the potential for treatment-related side effects greater. With a range of international experts authoring its chapters and providing the up-to-date evidence base in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health problems in people with ID, this book will be useful not just for the trainee doctor in psychiatry, but also for those in allied professions like general practice, nursing, psychology, speech and language therapy, social work, and occupational therapy as well as family members and carers and all those involved in any way with organizing or delivering care and treatment for people with intellectual disability and mental health problems. Throughout, the book addresses issues that are of relevance to those on the frontline and hence most chapters offer examples of clinical issues that come up in day to day practice. There are also a number of single response multiple choice questions that will serve as an aid to learning.