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Mental health of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities in Britain
- Authors:
- EMERSON Eric, HATTON Chris
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 191(12), December 2007, pp.493-499.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Few studies have employed formal diagnostic criteria to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in contemporaneous samples of children with and without intellectual disabilities. This seeks to establish the prevalence of psychiatric disorders against ICD–10 criteria among children with and without intellectual disabilities, the association with social/environmental risk factors, and risk attributable to intellectual disability. Secondary analysis of the 1999 and 2004 Office for National Statistics surveys of the mental health of British children and adolescents with (n=641) and without (n=17 774) intellectual disability. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 36% among children with intellectual disability and 8% among children without (OR=6.5). Children with intellectual disabilities accounted for 14% of all British children with a diagnosable psychiatric disorder. Increased prevalence was particularly marked for autistic-spectrum disorder (OR=33.4), hyperkinesis (OR=8.4) and conduct disorders (OR=5.7). Cumulative risk of exposure to social disadvantage was associated with increased prevalence. A significant proportion of the elevated risk for psychopathology among children with intellectual disability may be due to their increased rate of exposure to psychosocial disadvantage.
The mental health of children and adolescents with learning disabilities in Britain
- Authors:
- EMERSON Eric, HATTON Chris
- Publisher:
- Lancaster University; Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 31p.
- Place of publication:
- Lancaster
The above-average occurrence of mental health problems among children with learning difficulties may not be linked to their condition. The study, which has been carried out by the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities found the higher rate of mental illness could instead be a consequence of life experience. Eric Emerson, professor of disability and health research at Lancaster University, who was involved in the study, said children with learning difficulties were more likely to experience poverty, social exclusion, neglect and abuse than other children.This had large implications for the way services were provided for the group.
Reducing the risks
- Authors:
- EMERSON Eric, HATTON Chris
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, May 2007, pp.23-25.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
This article reports on research which used combined data from the 1999 ONS survey of the mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain and a second survey in 2004 to investigate: the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents with learning disabilities in Great Britain; the extent to which learning disabilities represent a risk factor for psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents; the extent to which risk factors for psychiatric disorder within the population of children and adolescents with learning disabilities correspond to those within the general child and adolescent population; and the support available to families with a child with learning disabilities and psychiatric disorders. The results found that poverty and social exclusion puts children and young people with learning disabilities at far greater risk of mental health problems.