The mental health needs of children and adolescents with learning disabilities

To provide an update on the mental health needs of children and adolescents with learning disabilities, by examining salient studies published predominantly in the last 12-18 months.

There have been further articles published supporting the findings of earlier landmark studies demonstrating an increased prevalence of mental health disorders in young people with learning disabilities. These articles suggest higher rates of comorbidity than were previously recognized. There are few published studies pertaining to the effectiveness of psychological and pharmacological treatments, although there is a recognition that the latter are more routinely and perhaps inappropriately administered. Antipsychotics are the most commonly prescribed group of medications and, despite a lack of evidence, continue to be prescribed more to address challenging behaviours rather than in the treatment of an identified psychiatric disorder. Reviews examining services and policies in other countries further highlight that the health and social care needs of individuals with learning disabilities are receiving more attention, with a shared vision that services should be inclusive and preferably community based.

Although there is improved knowledge of the rates of mental health disorders in young people with learning disabilities, in clinical practice these mental health needs continue to be underrecognized and untreated.