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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Behavioral Health of People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Jessica Solomon Sanders¹, Rajapillai L I Pillai¹, Rachel Sturley¹

¹Department of Pediatrics (Sanders) and Department of Neurology (Sanders, Sillau), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora; University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School-Baystate, Springfield (Pillai); Program in Humanistic Studies, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey (Sturley); Kennedy Krieger Institute (Asato) and Adult Epilepsy Diet Center (Cervenka), Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore; Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (Aravamuthan); Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City (Bonuck, Siegel, Siasoco); Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City (Hammond); Access: Supports for Living, Middletown, New York (Margolis).

Psychiatric Services (Washington, D.C.)

|June 23, 2022

Abstract

Objective:

The authors examined how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the behavioral health of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Methods:

A modified version of the Coronavirus Health Impact Survey-Adapted for Autism and Related Neurodevelopmental Conditions was sent to the authors' clinical networks and IDD-affiliated organizations from March to June 2021.

Results:

In total, 437 people with IDD or their caregivers responded to the survey. Diagnoses included intellectual disability (51%) and autism spectrum disorder (48%). More than half (52%) of respondents reported worsened mental health. Losing access to services correlated with declining mental health. Interventions suggested to improve behavioral health included more time with friends and family (68%), more time outdoors (61%), and access to community activities (59%).

Conclusions:

COVID-19 affected the behavioral health of individuals with IDD. Survey results highlight the opportunity to leverage physical activity and pandemic-safe social supports as accessible means to mitigate gaps in services.

Keywords:

Autism spectrum disorder Community mental health services Developmental disability Intellectual disability

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