Abstract
The current paper describes the prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses in a large sample (n = 150) of adolescents with developmental disabilities who were hospitalized for inpatient psychiatric treatment. Differential diagnoses made during their inpatient stay in a specialty unit for the assessment and treatment of dually diagnosed adolescents are presented and contrasted with longitudinal/historical data on these same patients' diagnoses prior to admission. Results indicate that these individuals received a wide spectrum of diagnoses during their adolescent years. The paper offers indirect support that correctly diagnosing psychiatric conditions is often challenging in adolescents with developmental disabilities. Factors related to diagnostic complexity and misdiagnoses (false positives and false negatives) are discussed. Longitudinal data on psychotropic medication usage for these individuals are also presented.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Borthwick-Duffy SA: Epidemiology and prevalence of psychopathology in people with mental retardation. J Consult Clin Psychol. 62:17-27, 1994.
Matson JL, Barrett RP: Psychopathology in the Mentally Retarded (2 nd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon 1993.
Nezu CM, Nezu AM, Gill-Weiss, MJ: Psychopathology in Persons with Mental Retardation: Clinical guidelines for assessment and treatment. Champaign, IL: Research Press, 1992.
Rush J, Frances A: Expert consensus guidelines series: Treatment of psychiatric and behavioral problems in mental retardation. Am J Ment Retard. 105:159-228, 2000.
Baumeister A, Sevin JA, King B: Neuroleptics. In: Consensus Handbook on Psychopharmacology in Mental Retardation, ed., OH: Nisonger Center, 1998.
Sovner R: Limiting factors in the use of DSM-III criteria with mentally ill/mentally retarded persons. Psychopharmacol Bull. 22:1055-1059, 1986.
Ryan R: Posttraumatic stress disorder in persons with developmental disabilities. Community Ment Health J. 30:45-54, 1994.
Pyles DAM, Muniz K, Cade A, Silva R: A behavioral diagnostic paradigm for integrating behavior-analytic and psychopharmacological interventions for people with a dual diagnosis. Res Dev Disabil. 18:185-214, 1997.
Alford JD, Locke BJ: Clinical responses to psychopathology of mentally retarded persons. Am J Ment Defic. 89:195-197, 1984.
Reiss S, Levitan GW, Szyszko, J: Emotional disturbance and mental retardation: Diagnostic overshadowing. Am J Ment Defic. 86:567-574, 1982.
Reiss S, Szyszko, J: Diagnostic overshadowing and professional experience with mentally retarded persons. Am J Ment Defic. 87:396-402, 1983.
Sevin JA, Bowers-Stephens C, Hamilton MH, Ford A: Integrating behavioral and pharmacological interventions in treating clients with psychiatric disorders and mental retardation. Res Dev Disabil. 22:463-485, 2001.
Hardan A, Sahl R:Psychopathology in children and adolescents with developmental disorders. Res Dev Disabil. 18:369-382, 1997.
Aman MG: Assessing Psychopathology and Behavior Problems in Persons with Mental Retardation: A review of available instruments. Rockville, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, 1991.
Einfeld SL, Aman M: Issues in the taxonomy of psychopathology in mental retardation. J Autism Dev Disord. 25:143-167,1995.
Johnson CR, Lubetsky MJ, Sacco KA: Psychiatric and behavioral disorders in hospitalized preschoolers with developmental disabilities. J Autism Dev Disord. 25: 169-182, 1995.
Sturmey P, Reed J, Corbett J: Psychiatric assessment of psychiatric disorders in people with learning difficulties (mental handicap): A review of measures. Psychol Med. 21:143-155, 1991.
Reid A: Psychiatry of mental handicap: A review. J R Soc Med. 76:587-591, 1983.
Reid A: Schizophrenia in mental retardation: Clinical features. Res Dev Disabil. 10: 241-249, 1989.
Sevin JA, Matson JL: (1992). Mood disorders. In: Manual for the Assessment and Treatment of Behavior Disorders of People with Mental Retardation, ed. Konarski EA, Favell JE, Favell JE. Morganton, N.C.: Western Carolina Foundation, 1992.
Sovner R, Pary R: Affective disorders in developmentally disabled persons. In: Psychopathology in the Mentally Retarded (2 nd ed.), ed. Matson JL, Barrett RP. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 1993.
Einfeld SL: Clinical assessment of psychiatric symptoms in mentally retarded individuals. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 26:48-63, 1992.
Campbell TW: Challenging the evidentiary reliability of DSM-IV.Am J Forensic Psychol. 17:47-68, 1999.
Benson BA: Behavior disorders and mental retardation: Associations with age, sex, and level of functioning in an outpatient clinic sample. Appl Res Ment Retard. 6: 79-85, 1985.
Charlot LR: Developmental effects on mental health disorders in persons with developmental disabilities. Ment Health Aspects Dev Disabil. 1:29-38, 1998.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sevin, J.A., Bowers-Stephens, C. & Crafton, C.G. Psychiatric Disorders in Adolescents with Developmental Disabilities: Longitudinal Data on Diagnostic Disagreement in 150 Clients. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 34, 147–163 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1027346108645
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1027346108645