Characteristics of people with intellectual disability admitted for psychiatric inpatient treatment

The present prospective study describes the demographic, medical and psycho social characteristics of 40 people with intellectual disability who were r eferred for psychiatric inpatient treatment in the special psychiatric unit of the Special Welfare District of Southwest Finland. Three different cont rol groups were used to study: (I) demographic variables (n = 122); (2) med ical history (n=39); and (3) psychosocial factors (n = 20). The symptoms le ading to an admission to inpatient care and the connections of these clinic al signs with the discharge diagnosis were evaluated. The typical inpatient s were young males with mild intellectual disability, psychosis and a previ ous psychiatric diagnosis. They had lived in several places during their li ves and their economic situation was poor. Affective and/or disruptive symp toms were the most common causes of an admission to inpatient care. The lar gest diagnostic group at discharge consisted of patients with psychotic dis orders. The people with intellectual disability who were admitted for inpat ient fare formed a subgroup with certain psychiatric symptoms and social pr oblems. Specialist psychiatric expertise is absolutely necessary for the tr eatment of this subgroup.