DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF PSYCHIATRIC AND BEHAVIORAL-DISORDERS IN MENTALLY-RETARDED INDIVIDUALS - THE STATE-OF-THE-ART

It is now well known that a higher proportion of people with mental re tardation show behavioural and psychiatric disorders compared to their non-mentally retarded counterparts. However, the exact relationship b etween psychiatric illness and behavioural disorder in this population is far from clear. There are problems of using the standard diagnosti c and classification categories in this population, particularly in th ose who are severely and profoundly mentally retarded. Recently, there have been many novel approaches to this diagnostic dilemma, including 'developmental approach' and 'psychodynamic approach'. In the Netherl ands, the so-called 'developmental-dynamic' approach has been used in the diagnosis and treatment of behavioural and psychiatric disorders i n the mentally retarded. There have also been many treatment approache s, including drug therapy, behavioural treatment, psychotherapy, cogni tive and social learning. Also the Dutch, Swiss and German traditions have extensive experience in the directive pedagogical treatment of th e mentally retarded.