Assessment of mental health problems in children and adolescents with learning disability (LD)

by Dr Muthukumar Kannabiran and Dr Sarah Bernard

Assessment of mental health problems in children and adolescents with learning disabilitiesChildren and adolescents with learning disability (LD) are among the most vulnerable of the population. Physical disorders are well recognised in this group. More recently, evidence regarding the presence and extent of psychiatric disorders in this population is emerging.

 

Assessment of psychiatric disorders in this population requires consideration of issues specific to this group of individuals, including their level of development, communication and risk factors. A comprehensive assessment includes a search for the possible causes of learning disability and for comorbid disorders.

 

This module aims to provide a framework for assessment of children and adolescents with learning disability for mental health problems, highlighting issues to be considered in the assessment. 

 

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If you like this module, you may also be interested in:

 

Ethical and legal challenges within children's mental healthcare: Part 1 and Part 2 by Dr Moli Paul

 

Epilepsy in intellectual disability by Professor Shoumitro Deb and Dr Radha Srikanth

 

Adult ADHD by Dr Ian Ellison-Wright and Dr Louise Fountain

 

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