title: Multiple exposure to life events and clinical psychopathology in adults with intellectual disability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Relatively few studies have examined the impact of life events on mental health in the field of intellectual disability (ID), despite the possibility that adults with ID and mental health problems might be particularly vulnerable to multiple events.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the impact of multiple life events on mental health in people with ID.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 281 men and women with ID consecutively referred to a specialist mental health service in South-East London. For each participant, key informants completed the PAS-ADD Life Events list, while psychiatric diagnoses were made by clinicians based on ICD-10 criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Logistic regression analysis revealed that single exposure to life events was significantly associated with female gender, schizophrenia, personality disorders and depression. However, multiple exposure to life events was associated with personality disorder, depression and adjustment reaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results suggest an increased vulnerability to life events in people with ID. A better understanding of the relationship between life events and mental health can enhance the development of interventions, which may benefit substantially this particular population.
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Estia Centre 47 Weston Street, London, SE1 3RR, UK.
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsakanikos
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bouras
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008016:Life Change Events; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio