[A study of behaviour profile and psychiatric symptom dimensions among intellectually disabled people in residential care].

AIMS: Authors investigated the psychiatric symptoms and behaviour dimensions of people in residential care of institutions in Tolna county (South-West Hungary, Trans-Danubian region) aimed at screening the frequency of the relevant affective and behavioural symptoms associated with intellectual disability and their dependency on the level of intellectual impairment.

METHODS

On the basis of HAWIK test, Hungarian standard version, 4 groups were created: subnormal, mild, moderate and profound MR subgroups. The Hungarian standard of Derogatis' Symptom Distress Checklist (SCL-90) and the validated Behaviour Problem Profile (BPI by Rojahn et al) were used.

RESULTS

Towards the more profound categories, the self-injurious and stereotype behaviour are increasing, while the aggressive behaviour is most characteristic in the moderately intellectually disabled group.Concerning stereotype behaviour, both frequency and seriousness dominated in the more serious group. Although psychiatric symptoms decrease depending on the level of intellectual impairment, in 5 out of 9 dimensions, the mild intellecually impaired group has the leading role. These symptoms dimensions are: interpersonal difficulties, depression, phobic, paranoid and psychotic symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Authors focus on the paramount psychiatric risks of mild intellectually disabled group (old term "debility") and emphasize the detection and treatment of the psychiatric problems.