[The Psychiatrist and patients with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning]

A substantial proportion of patients within regular Mental Health Services have a mild intellectual disability (MID) or borderline intellectual functioning (BIF). Previous research has shown that psychiatrists are ambivalent about their own knowledge and skills in providing care to these patients.

To gain insight into factors that play a role in how psychiatrists experience the provision of care to patients with MID/BIF and comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Exploratory qualitative research by semi-structured interviews with nine psychiatrists.

The results can be divided into five themes; perception, recognition, interaction, cooperation and knowledge and skills. Inhibition and feelings of inadequacy were expressed throughout the themes. Prejudices came to the fore. Mental Health Services were already seen as playing a role in the care of patients with a MID/BIF and comorbid psychiatric conditions. Nonetheless we heared a desire for cooperation and referral options to Intellectual Disability Physicians or Services.

How psychiatrists experience the provision of care to patients with MID/BIF is influenced by psychological processes such as stigmatization and transference phenomena. These processes are primarily unconscious. Awareness of these processes and their role in the contact between psychiatrist and patients in this group is needed to improve their care.