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Journal on Developmental Disabilities
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| Volume 9, No. 2 | other issues |
| Special Issue: Perspectives on the Autistic Spectrum Disorders | |
Challenges in Identifying Mental Health Issues in Individuals with Severe AutismSoula Homatidis |
Articles / Abstracts Advances in Understanding Autism Relationship Between Autism and Fragile X Accessing and Assessing Intelligence Challenges in Identifying Mental Health Issues Best Practices and Practical Strategies Teaching Prerequisite Matching and Object Skills Children & Adolescents: The Role of a Crisis Service Community Participation in an Admission Process Intensive Early Intervention Program for Children |
AbstractDespite the growing realization that people with developmental disabilities are prone to mental health problems, clinicians continue to be challenged in recognizing psychiatric disorders in the presence of severe autism or mental retardation. This paper examines some of the difficulties encountered by clinicians that lead to either a failure to identify the presence of a psychiatric disorder or to a misdiagnosis of the underlying mental health problem. This phenomenon occurs most frequently as an individual’s cognitive limitations become more severe. Understanding the impact of an individual’s developmental level on the clinical features of a mental health problem is crucial for both diagnosis and intervention. |
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copyright February, 2005. Ontario Association on Developmental
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