Skip to the main content

Psychiatria Danubina, Vol. 29 No. suppl. 3, 2017.

Conference paper

PSYCHIATRIC COMORBIDITY IN OLDER ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

Agnieszka Bratek ; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Krzysztof Krysta ; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Krzysztof Kucia ; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

Full text: english pdf 136 Kb

page 590-593

downloads: 357

cite

Abstract

Background: The population of older adults with intellectual disability (ID) is large and growing due to a significant increase of
life expectancy caused by improvements in health and social care. Multimorbidity is highly prevalent in this population and comorbid psychiatric disorders are especially frequent.
Subject and methods: The aim of this article is to review the prevalence and consequences of psychiatric comorbidity in the
population of older adults with ID. We therefore performed a literature search of studies relevant to adults with ID, published since January 2006, using the following keywords: intellectual disability and comorbidity, intellectual disability and mental disorders, intellectual disability and polypharmacy.
Results: Psychiatric comorbidity is frequent among patients with ID and correlates with older age. Mental disorders are present
in up to 40% of older adults with ID and the most prevalent are challenging behaviour, depression, anxiety and dementia. Patients with ID and at least one co-morbid mental disorder are at a high risk of polypharmacy. Importantly, psychiatric comorbidity was found to significantly increase service use and costs of care.
Conclusions: Further investigation of the population of older adults with ID is needed, with special attention to development of
clear treatment guidelines in order to effectively manage co-morbid mental illnesses and physical health problems.

Keywords

intellectual disability – comorbidity - mental disorders - aged, polypharmacy

Hrčak ID:

263947

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/263947

Publication date:

15.6.2017.

Visits: 785 *