Mental Health and Healthcare in Adults With Intellectual Disabilities

Norwegian University of Science and Technology1 site in 1 country214 target enrollmentOctober 1, 2017

Overview

Brief Summary

Intellectual disability (ID) is a diagnosis characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills. The disability originates before age 18 years. The prevalence of mental ill-health among adults with intellectual disabilities is higher than the general population. Individuals with ID use psychotropic medication extensively, but studies indicate that less than one out of three who use psychotropic drugs have a psychiatric diagnosis. The drugs are usually prescribed by a regular general practitioner. People with IDs will often require health- and social services throughout their lifetimes. Studies report worse mental and physical health among people with IDs compared to the general population, in addition to more unmet healthcare needs and more difficulty accessing healthcare.

General health surveys in Norway do not include people with intellectual disabilities, and studies of health indicators in this group are largely lacking. Further, the unique organization of services for this group in Norway calls for specific research efforts. This project will use multinational health indicators for youths and adults with IDs in a biopsychosocial context in attempt to identify unmet health care needs to improve services. The project will focus on mental health and challenging behavior and how the related healthcare needs are met. We will also look at the relationship between mental health, behavioral problems and workforce employment amongst people with intellectual disabilities.

Detailed Description

Intellectual disability (ID) is a diagnosis characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills. The disability originates before age 18 years. The prevalence of mental ill-health among adults with intellectual disabilities is higher than the general population. Individuals with ID use psychotropic medication extensively, but studies indicate that less than one out of three who use psychotropic drugs have a psychiatric diagnosis. The drugs are usually prescribed by a regular general practitioner. People with IDs will often require health- and social services throughout their lifetimes. Studies report worse mental and physical health among people with IDs compared to the general population, in addition to more unmet healthcare needs and more difficulty accessing healthcare. General health surveys in Norway do not include people with intellectual disabilities, and studies of health indicators in this group are largely lacking. Further, the unique organization of services for this group in Norway calls for specific research efforts. This project will use multinational health indicators for youths and adults with IDs in a biopsychosocial context in attempt to identify unmet health care needs to improve services. The project will focus on mental health and challenging behavior and how the related healthcare needs are met. We will also look at the relationship between mental health, behavioral problems and workforce employment amongst people with intellectual disabilities. The following articles will be published as part of this project: 1. "The relationship between symptoms of mental health problems, diagnoses and medication in adults with intellectual disabilities" 2. "The contact between individuals with intellectual disabilities with mental health problems, and mental health professionals: characteristics of the patients and the professionals. 3. "Mental health, behavioral problems and workforce employment amongst people with intellectual disabilities".

Registry

clinicaltrials.gov

Start Date

October 1, 2017

End Date

December 1, 2019

Last Updated

3 years ago

Study Type

Observational

Sex

All

Investigators

Sponsor

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Responsible Party

Sponsor

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

•Clinical diagnosis of intellectual disability
•Age 16 or older and providing consent to participate.

Exclusion Criteria

•Age 15 or younger.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Health indicators in a Norwegian population of youths and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Time Frame: Baseline

Health indicators as measured by The POMONA Checklist of Health Indicators (P15). The health indicators include measures of socio-demographics, Health status, Health determinants and Health systems.Physical Activity is defined as a Health determinant in this study in accordance With the POMONA Health indicator classification.