DSM-IV disorders in children with borderline to moderate intellectual disability. I: prevalence and impact

To assess the prevalence, comorbidity, and impact of DSM-IV disorders in 7- to 20-year-olds with intellectual disability.

A total of 474 children (response 86.8%) were randomly selected from a sample of students from Dutch schools for the intellectually disabled. Parents completed the anxiety, mood, and disruptive disorder modules of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children.

A total of 21.9% of the children met the DSM-IV symptom criteria for anxiety disorder, 4.4% for mood disorder, and 25.1% for disruptive disorder. Similar prevalence rates were found for children who screened positive or negative for pervasive developmental disorder. More than half of the children meeting the criteria for a DSM-IV disorder were severely impaired in everyday functioning, and about 37% had a comorbid disorder. Children with multiple disorders were more likely to be impaired across various areas of everyday functioning. Almost 27% of the diagnosed children received mental health care in the last year. Comorbidity and impairment in everyday functioning increased the likelihood of referral.

Most disorders can be observed in intellectually disabled children. Impairment and comorbidity are high. The finding that less than one third of the children with a psychiatric disorder receive mental health care deserves attention.