Behavioural and emotional problems in children with intellectual disability attending special schools in Cape Town, South Africa

A sample Of 355 children with intellectual disability (ID) attending specia l schools in Cape Town, South Africa, were assessed on the Developmental Be havioural Checklist-Teacher Version (DBC-T). A prevalence rate Of 31% for p sychopathology was found. Boys manifested more behaviour problems than girl s, especially in relation to disruptive, self-absorbed and antisocial behav iours. Children with severe and profound levels of ID showed more behaviour al difficulties than those in the mild and moderate categories. Specific be haviour problems were self-absorbed and autistic behaviours in children wit h profound ID, communication problems and anxiety in those with severe ID a nd antisocial behaviour in children with mild ID. Epilepsy, but not cerebra l palsy was associated with higher total behaviour scores. Ambulant childre n were more disruptive and antisocial, while non-ambulant children were mor e anxious. Non-verbal children had higher scores on all of the subscales ex cept for disruptive behaviour.