Psychosis and adults with intellectual disabilities. Prevalence, incidence, and related factors.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the point prevalence, incidence, and remission over a 2-year period of psychosis in adults with intellectual disabilities, and to investigate demographic and clinical factors hypothesised to be associated with psychosis.


METHODS
A population-based cohort of adults with intellectual disabilities (n = 1,023) was longitudinally studied. Comprehensive face-to-face mental health assessments to detect psychosis, plus review of family physician, psychiatric, and psychology case notes were undertaken at two time points, 2 years apart.


RESULTS
Point prevalence is 2.6% (95% CI = 1.8-3.8%) to 4.4% (95% CI = 3.2-5.8%), dependant upon the diagnostic criteria employed. Two-year incidence is 1.4% (95% CI = 0.6-2.6), and for first episode is 0.5% (95% CI = 0.1-1.3). Compared with the general population, the standardised incidence ratio for first episode psychosis is 10.0 (95% CI = 2.1-29.3). Full remission after 2 years is 14.3%. Visual impairment, previous long-stay hospital residence, smoking, and not having epilepsy were independently associated with psychosis, whereas other factors relevant to the general population were not.


CONCLUSIONS
The study of psychosis in persons with intellectual disabilities benefits the population with intellectual disabilities, and advances the understanding of psychosis for the general population. Mental health professionals need adequate knowledge in order to address the high rates of psychosis in this population.
Cooper
Sally-Ann
SA
Section of Psychological Medicine, Division of Community Based Sciences, Academic Centre, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow (SCO) G12 OXH, UK. sacooper@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
Smiley
Elita
E
Morrison
Jillian
J
Allan
Linda
L
Williamson
Andrew
A
Finlayson
Janet
J
Jackson
Alison
A
Mantry
Dipali
D
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology