Mental Retardation - Public Health and Psychology - Lecture Slides, Slides of Public Health

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Mental Retardation:

Assessment and

Treatment

Historical Perspectives

 Historically, prevailing sentiment was

one of ignorance and mistreatment

 Degeneracy theory (1800’s)

 The eugenics movement (early 1900’s)

Mental Retardation

 Significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills

 Prevalence

• 1-3% of population

 Slightly more males than females

 More prevalent in lower SES and in minority groups

• especially for mild MR
• no differences for more severe levels

Diagnosing Mental

Retardation

 DSM-IV Criteria:

• Intelligence Quotient (IQ) at or below 70
• Significant impairment in 2+ areas of adaptive behavior
• Must be evident before age 18

Other Categorization

 American Association on Mental Retardation

(AAMR) categories:

• intermittent
• limited
• extensive
• pervasive

 Emphasis on interaction between person

and environment in determining level of functioning

Adaptive Behavior

Criteria

 Adaptive functioning: how effectively

an individual copes with ordinary life

demands and how capable he/she is

of living independently and abiding by

community standards

 MR criteria: Impairment in two or

more areas

Age Criteria

 Must be evident before age 18

 Why?

• Developmental Disorder
• Rule Out: Adult Degenerative Diseases

Does our patient meet

criteria for mental

retardation?

Classification of Patient

Axis I: No diagnosis

Axis II: Mental Retardation (mild)

Axis III: None Reported

Axis IV: History of child abuse, removed

from home, foster care placement

Axis V: 65 (current)

Parent Reactions

 What does this mean?

• Can they still go to college?

 Who will take care of my child when I

die?

• Will they be institutionalized?

 Concerns about stigma

• “Don’t tell the school!”
• Diagnosis refusal/denial