Psychiatric Conditions Prevalent Among Adults With Down Syndrome. Issue 2 (11th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tassé, Marc J.; Navas Macho, Patricia; Havercamp, Susan M.; Benson, Betsey A.; Allain, Dawn C.; Manickam, Kandamurugu; Davis, Suzanne
• Other Names: Brown Roy I. guestEditor.; Faragher Rhonda guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of policy and practice in intellectual disabilities. Volume 13:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 173
• Page End: 180
• Publication Date: 2016-05-11
• Subjects: Down syndrome -- health -- intellectual disability -- mental health -- neuropsychiatric conditions -- trisomy 21; Mental retardation -- Periodicals; People with mental disabilities -- Services for -- Periodicals; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; Learning disabilities -- Periodicals; 362.205
• DOI: 10.1111/jppi.12156
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-1122

Abstract

Abstract: The authors assessed available prevalence information regarding neuropsychiatric conditions among adults with Down syndrome (DS) and compared these findings among adults with other intellectual disability (non‐DS). The study entailed a survey of 291 adults with DS living in Ohio (USA). Twenty‐three percent of adults with DS reported having a co‐occurring psychiatric disorder, a smaller than the reported occurrence of such conditions in the general adult intellectual disability population. Depression, anxiety disorders, and dementia or Alzheimer's disease were the most frequently reported neuropsychiatric disorders by adults with DS. The likelihood of experiencing a psychiatric disorder increased with age but did not vary by sex among adults with DS. Lower rates of problem behavior were reported in adults with DS compared to adults with intellectual disability (non‐DS). The authors' findings indicate that adults with DS may present different rates and types of co‐occurring psychiatric disorders than the larger population of adults with other intellectual disability. These findings warrant additional research and could provide critical information for planning and intervention.