Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability (PDF)

Patients with intellectual disability (ID) can benefit from the
full range of mental health services. To ensure that psychiatric
assessment, diagnosis and treatment interventions are relevant and
effective; individuals with ID should be evaluated and treated
within the context of their developmental framework. Behavior
should be viewed as a form of communication.

Individuals with ID often present with behavioral symptoms
complicated by limited expressive language skills and undiagnosed
medical conditions. Many training programs do not include focused
study of individuals with ID, despite the fact that patients with
ID will be seen by virtually every mental health practitioner. In
this book, the authors present a framework for competent assessment
and treatment of psychiatric disorders in individuals with ID.

Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability is a
resource guide for psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and other
prescribers treating patients with ID. It is a supplemental text
for psychiatry residents, medical students, psychology graduate
students, psychotherapists, counselors, social workers, behavior
support specialists and nurses. To assist the practicing clinician
the book includes:

* Clinical vignettes

* Clinical pearls

* Charts for quick reference

* Issues concerning medications and poly-pharmacy

* Altered diagnostic criteria specific for use with individuals
with ID

There are no evidence-based principles dedicated to psychotropic
medication use in ID, but consensus guidelines address the high
prevalence of poly-pharmacy. Altered diagnostic criteria have been
published which accommodate less self-report and incorporate
collateral information; this book reviews the literature on
psychotropic medications, consensus guidelines, and
population-specific diagnostic criteria sets.

Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability also
includes:

* Interviewing techniques and assessment tips for all levels of
communicative ability as well as for nonverbal individuals

* Assessment of aggression to determine etiology and formulate a
treatment plan

* Overview of types of psychotherapy and suggested alterations
for each to increase efficacy

* Relevant legal issues for caregivers and treatment
providers

The detective work involved in mental health assessment of
individuals with ID is challenging yet rewarding. The highest
quality mental health treatment limits hospital days, improves
quality of life and often allows individuals to live in the least
restrictive environments. Psychiatry of Intellectual
Disability is a must have resource for clinicians treating
the ID population.