A controlled study of psychiatric morbidity among developmentally disabled children in the United Arab Emirates

A cross-sectional study of the prevalence of psychiatric problems among 26 children each with a learning disability (mental retardation) and specific speech disorder was conducted in an Arab population using the Rutter Behavioural Scale, and compared with a community sample of 100 control children matched for age. The prevalence of psychiatric problems, as identified by both the parents and the teachers was 35, 19 and 4 per cent respectively, in the learning disabled, speech impaired and control groups. Children with global disability or mental retardation showed significantly higher rates of psychiatric morbidity than those with specific speech disorder, both of which were significantly higher than that in the control group. Higher rates of psychiatric problems noted in the developmentally disabled children may be the result of specific socio-demographic and cultural factors in addition to neurodevelopmental factors and low IQ.