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Depressive episodes in adults with learning disabilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Sally-Ann Cooper  and
Richard A Collacott
Sally-Ann Cooper
Affiliation:
Rockingham Forest NHS Trust, St. Mary's Hospital, Kettering. Nonhants NN 15 7PW, England
Richard A Collacott
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Leicester University, LEI 7RH, England
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Abstract

Objective: In view of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Defeat Depression campaign, to review the existing literature on depressive episodes in people with learning disabilities.

Methods: Review of all papers identified to cover this area. Papers were identified by Medline search and also by direct checking of the contents in the preceding five years of eight key learning disabilities journals, the British Journal of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Bulletin and bibliography in Current Opinions in Psychiatry. Papers about children or odd ‘depressive’ symptoms (rather than the syndrome of depression) were excluded.

Findings: For over a century it has been recognised that depression can occur in people with learning disabilities. However, the number of studies in this area is very limited. There remain many unanswered questions, such as those of prevalence, clinical presentation and diagnostic criteria, associated social factors, and the evaluation of treatments. Suitable rating scales have yet to be evaluated or devised. The authors propose diagnostic criteria for future use.

Conclusions: Research in this important area is very limited. Advances are yet to be made in the clinical assessment and management of the illness.

Keywords

Mental retardationDepressionDown's syndrome
Type
Reviews
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , September 1996 , pp. 105 - 113
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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