Prevalence of mental health conditions and relationship with general health in a whole-country population of people with intellectual disabilities compared with the general population

Hughes-McCormack, L. A., Rydzewska, E. , Henderson, A. , MacIntyre, C., Rintoul, J. and Cooper, S.-A. (2017) Prevalence of mental health conditions and relationship with general health in a whole-country population of people with intellectual disabilities compared with the general population. BJPsych Open, 3(5), pp. 243-248. (doi: 10.1192/bjpo.bp.117.005462) (PMID:29034100) (PMCID:PMC5620469)

Abstract

Background: There are no previous whole-country studies on mental health and relationships with general health in intellectual disability populations; study results vary. Aims: To determine the prevalence of mental health conditions and relationships with general health in a total population with and without intellectual disabilities. Method: Ninety-four per cent completed Scotland’s Census 2011. Data on intellectual disabilities, mental health and general health were extracted, and the association between them was investigated. Results: A total of 26 349/5 295 403 (0.5%) had intellectual disabilities. In total, 12.8% children, 23.4% adults and 27.2% older adults had mental health conditions compared with 0.3, 5.3 and 4.5% of the general population. Intellectual disabilities predicted mental health conditions; odds ratio (OR)=7.1 (95% CI 6.8–7.3). General health was substantially poorer and associated with mental health conditions; fair health OR=1.8 (95% CI 1.7–1.9), bad/very bad health OR=4.2 (95% CI 3.9–4.6). Conclusions: These large-scale, whole-country study findings are important, given the previously stated lack of confidence in comparative prevalence results, and the need to plan services accordingly.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Rydzewska, Dr Ewelina and Hughes, Mrs Laura and Henderson, Mrs Angela and Cooper, Professor Sally-Ann
• Authors: Hughes-McCormack, L. A., Rydzewska, E., Henderson, A., MacIntyre, C., Rintoul, J., and Cooper, S.-A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: BJPsych Open
• Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
• ISSN: 2056-4724
• ISSN (Online): 2056-4724
• Published Online: 29 September 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
• First Published: First published in British Journal of Psychiatry Open 3(5):243-248
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License