title: Psychiatric disorders in adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Relative to other aspects of Down syndrome, remarkably little is known about the psychiatric problems experienced by youth and young adults with this syndrome and if these problems differ from others with intellectual disabilities. Yet adolescence and young adulthood are particularly vulnerable time periods, as they involve multiple life transitions in educational, medical, and other service systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study compared the psychiatric diagnoses of 49 adolescent and young adult patients with Down syndrome to 70 patients with other intellectual disabilities (IDs). The groups were similar in age, gender, and level of intellectual impairment. The 119 participants, aged 13 to 29 years (M = 21) were evaluated in one of two specialized psychiatric clinics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In contrast to previous literature, those with Down syndrome versus other IDs had significantly higher rates of psychosis NOS or depression with psychotic features (43% versus 13%). Unlike the ID group, psychosis was predominantly seen in females with Down syndrome. Marked motoric slowing in performing routine daily activities or in expressive language was manifested in 17% of patients with Down syndrome. No group differences were found in anxiety or depressive disorders, and the ID group had significantly higher rates of bipolar and impulse control disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary observations warrant further studies on genetic, neurological, and psychosocial factors that place some young people with Down syndrome or other IDs at high risk for severe psychiatric illness.
authors: Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 1 Magnolia Circle, Peabody Box 40, Nashville, USA ; Departments of Psychology and Human Development, Psychiatry, and Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, 1 Magnolia Circle, Peabody Box 40, Nashville, USA.
authors: Elisabeth M
authors: EM
authors: Dykens
authors: Department of Psychiatry, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.
authors: Bhavik
authors: B
authors: Shah
authors: Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 1 Magnolia Circle, Peabody Box 40, Nashville, USA.
authors: Bruce
authors: B
authors: Davis
authors: Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 1 Magnolia Circle, Peabody Box 40, Nashville, USA.
authors: Courtney
authors: C
authors: Baker
authors: Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 1 Magnolia Circle, Peabody Box 40, Nashville, USA.
authors: Taylor
authors: T
authors: Fife
authors: Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 1 Magnolia Circle, Peabody Box 40, Nashville, USA.
authors: Jeri
authors: J
authors: Fitzpatrick
keywords: Catatonia; Depression; Down syndrome; Intellectual disabilities; Psychosis