Specific characteristics of mental disorders in people with disorders of intellectual development-Consequences for psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care

Nervenarzt. 2026 Apr 22. doi: 10.1007/s00115-026-01969-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The group of people with disorders of intellectual development (DID) have an above-average need for psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care. The psychiatric and psychotherapeutic mainstream care system should be regarded as the primary counterpart for professional support. To this end, the mainstream care system must adapt more than before to the specific needs of this group. Specialized services should only be used when the knowledge and available skills in the standard care system, in terms of action, interpretation and communication, do not enable appropriately tailored treatment. The spectrum of mental disorders among individuals with DID is broader than in unaffected individuals. Additional impairments and comorbid illnesses frequently complicate the diagnostics and differential diagnostics. A substantial proportion of behavioral problems arise when the circumstances and demands of the social and physical environment exceed the individual capacities of patients. Delays in emotional development play a major role in the development of mental disorders and behavioral problems as well as in the diagnostics and differential diagnostics. Taking the medical history, collecting findings, achieving diagnostic clarification and further stages in the care are time-consuming. The Diagnostic approach is broad and often requires an interdisciplinary perspective. The involvement of relatives and professional caregivers is essential. Outreach work is very often a useful option. Psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care providers must cooperate with adjacent support systems, such as specialized service providers and integration assistance networks. The psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care of patients with DID provides valuable skills and experience that can be usefully applied to the treatment of other patients.

PMID:42018175 | DOI:10.1007/s00115-026-01969-0