About this Research Topic
The psychiatric vulnerability of people with Intellectual Disability (ID) is still a matter of debate, nevertheless comorbidities are high and the prevalence rate of full range psychiatric disorders has been repeatedly reported to be up to 4 times higher than in the general population. Indeed, 25-44% of people with ID have at least one psychiatric
disorder during the life span, 21% have two psychiatric disorders, with different characteristics, and 8% have three psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of psychopathology further increases for people who meet both the criteria for ID and Autism Spectrum Disorder. A complex combination of biological, psychological and social factors has been hypothesized to contribute to this increased psychopathological vulnerability.
Despite the high prevalence reports, psychiatric disorders in people with ID have been scarcely studied for most specific clinical characteristics, such as presentation, course, and vulnerability factors since this population is almost always excluded from clinical trials on psychiatric disorders, and their voice and experience are not captured. However, the majority of people with ID and psychiatric disorders access mainstream mental health services across Europe, with only 56% of countries providing postgraduate psychiatric training in ID. Therefore, there is a urgent need for research studies and shared knowledge in this field.
This Research Topic will focus on cutting-edge researches and findings to understanding the psychiatric comorbidities in terms of rates, presentation and course in people with ID, and the implications of these findings for the treatments and rehabilitation techniques in the clinic.
We specifically encourage submissions addressing the following topics:
- Psychiatric comorbidities and Intellectual Disability: diagnostic challenges and diagnostic instruments;
- Psychopathology in Intellectual Disability and rates of psychiatric comorbidities;
- Recent possibilities in translating molecular and genetic findings into the understanding of psychiatric comorbidities in Intellectual Disability;
- Environmental, psychological and social vulnerability factors in Intellectual Disability psychiatric comorbidities;
- Psychopharmacology of psychiatric comorbidities in Intellectual Disability;
- Rehabilitation and Psychological approaches to psychiatric manifestations in Intellectual Disability.
We welcome Original Research articles, Case Reports, Review articles and Opinion articles addressing the above aims.
disorder during the life span, 21% have two psychiatric disorders, with different characteristics, and 8% have three psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of psychopathology further increases for people who meet both the criteria for ID and Autism Spectrum Disorder. A complex combination of biological, psychological and social factors has been hypothesized to contribute to this increased psychopathological vulnerability.
Despite the high prevalence reports, psychiatric disorders in people with ID have been scarcely studied for most specific clinical characteristics, such as presentation, course, and vulnerability factors since this population is almost always excluded from clinical trials on psychiatric disorders, and their voice and experience are not captured. However, the majority of people with ID and psychiatric disorders access mainstream mental health services across Europe, with only 56% of countries providing postgraduate psychiatric training in ID. Therefore, there is a urgent need for research studies and shared knowledge in this field.
This Research Topic will focus on cutting-edge researches and findings to understanding the psychiatric comorbidities in terms of rates, presentation and course in people with ID, and the implications of these findings for the treatments and rehabilitation techniques in the clinic.
We specifically encourage submissions addressing the following topics:
- Psychiatric comorbidities and Intellectual Disability: diagnostic challenges and diagnostic instruments;
- Psychopathology in Intellectual Disability and rates of psychiatric comorbidities;
- Recent possibilities in translating molecular and genetic findings into the understanding of psychiatric comorbidities in Intellectual Disability;
- Environmental, psychological and social vulnerability factors in Intellectual Disability psychiatric comorbidities;
- Psychopharmacology of psychiatric comorbidities in Intellectual Disability;
- Rehabilitation and Psychological approaches to psychiatric manifestations in Intellectual Disability.
We welcome Original Research articles, Case Reports, Review articles and Opinion articles addressing the above aims.
Keywords: autism, intellectual disabilities
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
