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The Natural History of Behavioural Symptoms among Severely and Profoundly Mentally Retarded Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

A. H. Reid ,
B. R. Ballinger ,
B. B. Heather  and
S. J. Melvin
A. H. Reid*
Affiliation:
Dundee Psychiatric Services, Royal Dundee Liff Hospital, By Dundee, DD2 5NF
B. R. Ballinger
Affiliation:
Dundee Psychiatric Services, Royal Dundee Liff Hospital, By Dundee, DD2 5NF
B. B. Heather
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DDI 9SY
S. J. Melvin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY
*
∗Correspondence
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Summary

In a study of the evolution of behavioural symptoms in severely and profoundly mentally retarded adults in hospital over a period of six years, items of abnormal behaviour were found to be remarkably persistent. There is a high prevalence rate of psychiatric disorder in this population, when this disorder is defined in a widely descriptive sense. A substantially improved living environment, and increased staff-patient ratios, are prerequisites for improving disturbed behaviour in these patients.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 145 , Issue 3 , September 1984 , pp. 289 - 293
Copyright
Copyright © 1984 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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