A RANZCP trainee’s experience of working with patients with an intellectual disability: a case series

Abstract

Objectives:

This study aimed to highlight the interplay of intellectual disability and psychiatric presentation using a case series.

Methods:

A brief review of the current literature and an illustrative case series of five intellectually disabled patients with psychiatric patients whose diagnosis were clarified over time who presented with a psychiatric illness are provided.

Results:

The presence of intellectual disability often compounds the difficulty of establishment of mental-health diagnosis.

Conclusions:

More focus is required on training and skills development across mental-health services regarding the assessment of psychiatric disorders in people with an intellectual disability.

Keywords

intellectual disabilities RANZCP training psychiatry of intellectual disability psychiatry registrar

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