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Dual diagnosis: developmental disability complicated by mental illness
1State of Michigan Department of Mental Health, Southgate, USA.
Southern Medical Journal
|December 1, 1996
Summary
Dual diagnosis, or mental illness in individuals with mental retardation, presents unique challenges. Integrated treatment approaches involving psychologists, psychiatrists, and interdisciplinary teams are essential for managing complex behaviors and improving community integration.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Disabilities
Background:
- Dual diagnosis, defined as mental retardation complicated by mental illness, has been recognized since the 1970s.
- Individuals with dual diagnosis have historically been resistant to community integration due to maladaptive behaviors or mental illness.
- Modern approaches move away from institutionalization towards community-based support for this population.