Prevalence and risk factors for depressive disorders in adults with intellectual disability

A sample of 798 persons (>19 years) of all degrees of intellectual disability and from different types of residential facilities was examined in a two-phase prevalence survey with respect to depressive disorders. 4.8% (n = 38) were identified with a DSM-III-R related diagnosis of a current depressive disorder. In comparison with a representative control group (n = 146) those persons with major depression (n = 21) showed a more severe, those with dysthymia (n = 11) a milder degree of intellectual disability. Being female was a risk factor for dysthymic disorder. The group with depressive disorders (n = 38) experienced distinctly reduced social support. Age, epilepsy (yes/no) and etiology (Down syndrome yes/no) did not show any association with the prevalence of depressive disorders. The study does not support the assumption of a specifically high vulnerability of adults with intellectual disability with respect to depressive disorders.