Mental Health and Healthcare in Adults With Intellectual Disabilities

NCT ID: NCT05703503

Last Updated: 2023-02-03

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 214 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2017-10-01
• Study Completion Date: 2019-12-01

Brief Summary

Intellectual disability (ID) is a diagnosis characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills. The disability originates before age 18 years. The prevalence of mental ill-health among adults with intellectual disabilities is higher than the general population. Individuals with ID use psychotropic medication extensively, but studies indicate that less than one out of three who use psychotropic drugs have a psychiatric diagnosis. The drugs are usually prescribed by a regular general practitioner. People with IDs will often require health- and social services throughout their lifetimes. Studies report worse mental and physical health among people with IDs compared to the general population, in addition to more unmet healthcare needs and more difficulty accessing healthcare.

General health surveys in Norway do not include people with intellectual disabilities, and studies of health indicators in this group are largely lacking. Further, the unique organization of services for this group in Norway calls for specific research efforts. This project will use multinational health indicators for youths and adults with IDs in a biopsychosocial context in attempt to identify unmet health care needs to improve services. The project will focus on mental health and challenging behavior and how the related healthcare needs are met. We will also look at the relationship between mental health, behavioral problems and workforce employment amongst people with intellectual disabilities.

Detailed Description

Intellectual disability (ID) is a diagnosis characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills. The disability originates before age 18 years. The prevalence of mental ill-health among adults with intellectual disabilities is higher than the general population. Individuals with ID use psychotropic medication extensively, but studies indicate that less than one out of three who use psychotropic drugs have a psychiatric diagnosis. The drugs are usually prescribed by a regular general practitioner. People with IDs will often require health- and social services throughout their lifetimes. Studies report worse mental and physical health among people with IDs compared to the general population, in addition to more unmet healthcare needs and more difficulty accessing healthcare.

General health surveys in Norway do not include people with intellectual disabilities, and studies of health indicators in this group are largely lacking. Further, the unique organization of services for this group in Norway calls for specific research efforts. This project will use multinational health indicators for youths and adults with IDs in a biopsychosocial context in attempt to identify unmet health care needs to improve services. The project will focus on mental health and challenging behavior and how the related healthcare needs are met. We will also look at the relationship between mental health, behavioral problems and workforce employment amongst people with intellectual disabilities.

The following articles will be published as part of this project:

1. "The relationship between symptoms of mental health problems, diagnoses and medication in adults with intellectual disabilities"

2. "The contact between individuals with intellectual disabilities with mental health problems, and mental health professionals: characteristics of the patients and the professionals.

3. "Mental health, behavioral problems and workforce employment amongst people with intellectual disabilities".

Conditions

Intellectual Disabilities (F70-F79); Problem;Behaviour;Adult; Mental Health Issue; Employment; Delivery of Health Care

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: ECOLOGIC_OR_COMMUNITY
• Study Time Perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Clinical diagnosis of intellectual disability
• Age 16 or older and providing consent to participate.

Exclusion Criteria

• Age 15 or younger.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 16 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

The Dam Foundation

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Tromso

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University Hospital of North Norway

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

The Norwegian Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Erik Søndenaa, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU.

Locations

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Trondheim, , Norway

Countries

Norway

Other Identifiers

2022/FO387091

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

493747

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id