title: [The importance of a developmental approach in psychiatric assessment and treatment of adults with intellectual disability].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mental disorders are 3-4 times more frequent in individuals with intellectual disabilities than in those without. From a developmental perspective the reason for this high prevalence could be, besides biological aberrations, a personality development with a difference between cognitive and emotional developmental levels. This discrepancy renders the person being highly vulnerable for the onset of problem behaviour and psychiatric disorders. For a proper insight into processes which have led to the disorder, it is necessary to evaluate the level of emotional development. This can be determined by the "schema of emotional development (SEO)" developed by A. Dosen.
  
  
  METHODS
  By means of a case description the authors demonstrate the application of SEO in the assessment and utilization of the concept of the level of emotional development in clinical practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The knowledge of the level of emotional development contributes to the explaining and understanding of the disorder, and also facilitates the establishment of an integrated diagnosis and the creation of appropriate integrated treatment strategies. Hence, temper tantrums, sleep patterns and mood improved in the case described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Besides biopsychosocial aspects, the developmental aspect, and in particular the level of emotional development should be taken into consideration in the diagnostic work-up and treatment of individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems. The data generated by the SEO may help in understanding the disorder and developing a treatment approach for these individuals.
authors: Abteilung für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Ev. Krankenhaus Königin-Elisabeth-Herzberge, Berlin. t.sappok@keh-berlin.de
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Sappok
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Schade
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Kaiser
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Dosen
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Diefenbacher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000150:complications; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000150:complications; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D009035:Mothers; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt