title: Psychiatric aspects of assessment of competence of mentally retarded persons.
abstract: There are some mentally retarded, developmentally handicapped persons who--if given an appropriate, enriched, and stimulating environment--can grow, mature, and develop cognitive abilities, emotional stability, and social skills to such a degree that they may become mentally competent, capable of assuming greater responsibilities, and move away from an institution to a more dignified environment in the community, where they may be treated and have, in many ways, the same rights as any other citizens. The role of the psychiatrist is to participate in this developmental process and to give his or her opinion as to the mentally retarded person's mental capacity to live independently.
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D003688:Deinstitutionalization; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007603:Jurisprudence; D008297:Male; D011570:Psychiatry; D012917:Social Adjustment