Behavioral and Mental Health Issues

Individuals with intellectual or other developmental disabilities sometimes display challenging behavior, such as aggression and self-injury, which may be a symptom of a health-related disorder, physical or emotional pain or other circumstance (e.g., insufficient supports).

Estimates of the frequency of psychiatric disorders and emotional disturbance in this population vary widely. However, many professionals have adopted the estimate that 30%-35% of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities have a psychiatric disorder. The full range of psychopathology that exists in the general population also can co-exist in people who have intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Communication issues often make it difficult for clinicians to assess individuals with IDD for emotional or psychiatric disorders. Another obstacle is “diagnostic overshadowing,” which occurs when a health care professional overlooks or minimizes the signs of psychiatric disturbance and instead attributes those manifestations to the person’s developmental disability.

This section offers guidance in dealing with challenging behaviors, the possible medical issues that might be triggering those behaviors and steps to consider when weighing whether to prescribe psychotropic medications.

Initial Management of Behavioral Crises in Primary Care. Accessed July 2021.
Risk Assessment Tool. Accessed July 2021.
Behavioral Problems and Emotional Concerns-Primary Care Checklist. Accessed July 2021.
Behavioral Problems and Emotional Concerns-Caregiver Checklist. Accessed July 2021.
Psychiatric Symptoms and Behaviors Checklist. Accessed July 2021.
ABC (Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence) Chart. Accessed July 2021.
Crisis Prevention and Management Planning. Accessed July 2021.
Crisis Prevention and Management Form. Accessed July 2021.
Psychotropic Medication Issues. Accessed July 2021.
Psychotropic Medication Checklist. Accessed July 2021.