Psychiatric illness among the mentally retarded. A swedish population study. 1985

R Göstason

Object--The aim of this investigation was in the first place to study the relation between mental retardation and other mental disturbances. The second aim was to study the frequency of severe and mild mental retardation in an adult Swedish population and to throw some light on the socio-medical situation of the adult mentally retarded. Methods--A primary sample, stratified with respect to population density, was extracted from the population in the age group 20-60 years, resident in Kopparberg County, Sweden, on 1 July 1977. The mildly and severely mentally retarded in this sample were identified. Enquiry was made into the presence of additional handicaps in the mentally retarded. Social conditions including alcohol consumption and the occurrence of abuse and criminality were studied in the two retarded groups and a control group representing the rest of the population. The three groups were compared by rating with the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS), by classification of any mental illness present according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) and by determining their intake of psychotropic drugs and anti-epileptics. The mildly mentally retarded and the control group were also compared with respect to neuroticism and extraversion-introversion by rating with the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI). Results--The study revealed a prevalence of 0.27% for severe (IQ less than 53) and 0.32% for mild (IQ 53-73.7) mental retardation in the age group 20-60 years. All the severely retarded, but only just over half the mildly retarded, were known to the care authority. The majority of the former were living in some form of institution, whereas this applied to only 15% of the mildly retarded. Nineteen per cent of the severely retarded and 4% of the mildly retarded had manifest epilepsy. Defects of movement and of hearing were most prominent among the mildly retarded, while the frequency of specific speech disturbances was greater among the severely retarded, approximately 10% of whom had no power of verbal communication. Visual defects were recorded in about one-third of both groups. The study showed that alcohol intake was lower among both the severely and mildly mentally retarded than among the persons in the control group and that the frequency of abuse and criminality was as high among persons of higher intelligence as among the mentally retarded. The severely retarded, particularly the men, showed a raised psychiatric morbidity as compared with the mildly retarded and the control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D008297 Male Males
D008607 Intellectual Disability Subnormal intellectual functioning which originates during the developmental period. This has multiple potential etiologies, including genetic defects and perinatal insults. Intelligence quotient (IQ) scores are commonly used to determine whether an individual has an intellectual disability. IQ scores between 70 and 79 are in the borderline range. Scores below 67 are in the disabled range. (from Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch55, p28) Disability, Intellectual,Idiocy,Mental Retardation,Retardation, Mental,Deficiency, Mental,Intellectual Development Disorder,Mental Deficiency,Mental Retardation, Psychosocial,Deficiencies, Mental,Development Disorder, Intellectual,Development Disorders, Intellectual,Disabilities, Intellectual,Disorder, Intellectual Development,Disorders, Intellectual Development,Intellectual Development Disorders,Intellectual Disabilities,Mental Deficiencies,Mental Retardations, Psychosocial,Psychosocial Mental Retardation,Psychosocial Mental Retardations,Retardation, Psychosocial Mental,Retardations, Psychosocial Mental
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009497 Neurotic Disorders Disorders in which the symptoms are distressing to the individual and recognized by him or her as being unacceptable. Social relationships may be greatly affected but usually remain within acceptable limits. The disturbance is relatively enduring or recurrent without treatment. Neuroses,Psychoneuroses,Disorder, Neurotic,Disorders, Neurotic,Neurotic Disorder
D011569 Psychiatric Status Rating Scales Standardized procedures utilizing rating scales or interview schedules carried out by health personnel for evaluating the degree of mental illness. Factor Construct Rating Scales (FCRS),Katz Adjustment Scales,Lorr's Inpatient Multidimensional Psychiatric Rating Scale,Wittenborn Scales,Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale,Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview
D011618 Psychotic Disorders Disorders in which there is a loss of ego boundaries or a gross impairment in reality testing with delusions or prominent hallucinations. (From DSM-IV, 1994) Psychoses,Psychosis, Brief Reactive,Schizoaffective Disorder,Schizophreniform Disorders,Psychosis,Brief Reactive Psychoses,Brief Reactive Psychosis,Disorder, Psychotic,Disorder, Schizoaffective,Disorder, Schizophreniform,Disorders, Psychotic,Disorders, Schizoaffective,Disorders, Schizophreniform,Psychoses, Brief Reactive,Psychotic Disorder,Reactive Psychoses, Brief,Reactive Psychosis, Brief,Schizoaffective Disorders,Schizophreniform Disorder
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003415 Crime A violation of the criminal law, i.e., a breach of the conduct code specifically sanctioned by the state, which through its administrative agencies prosecutes offenders and imposes and administers punishments. The concept includes unacceptable actions whether prosecuted or going unpunished. Kidnapping,Poaching,Crimes,Kidnappings

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