Diagnostic Criteria for Psychiatric Disorders for Use with Adults with Learning Disabilities/Mental Retardation (DC-LD) and the diagnosis of anxiety disorders: a review.
Regular anxiety checklists skip adults with ID—use DC-LD tweaks instead.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The authors read every paper they could find on anxiety in adults with learning disabilities. They asked one question: do regular anxiety checklists work for this group?
They wrote a narrative review, not a new experiment. Their goal was to flag problems and suggest fixes.
What they found
Standard DSM anxiety criteria often miss adults with ID. The review says we need modified rules, like those in the DC-LD guide.
No one knows how common anxiety really is because past studies used the wrong tools.
How this fits with other research
Bellon-Harn et al. (2020) gives hard numbers: 15 % of older Irish adults with ID show anxiety. This answers the very gap Eugenia Gras et al. (2003) pointed out.
Schiltz et al. (2023) tracked the same group over time. They show anxiety and depression feed each other, so screen for both.
Lundqvist (2013) found sleep issues raise risk for behavior problems. Eugenia Gras et al. (2003) also list sleep questions as key to spotting anxiety.
Faso et al. (2016) tested a life-story talk therapy and saw big anxiety drops. This proves treatment is possible once we diagnose correctly.
Why it matters
You can’t treat what you can’t see. Swap in DC-LD questions, add sleep and mood items, and re-ask until the person understands. Better fit means earlier help and fewer crisis behaviors.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND/METHODS: During the development of Diagnostic Criteria for Psychiatric Disorders for Use with Adults with Learning Disabilities[DC-LD] a literature review of diagnostic issues in anxiety disorders in adults with intellectual disability (ID) was undertaken using electronic and hand searching of journals. RESULTS: Relevant general concepts in the general population are reviewed briefly before those related specifically to adults with ID. The literature relating to the diagnosis of specific anxiety disorders is reviewed, although with the exception of obsessive compulsive disorder this consists mainly of case reports. Difficulties in the use of diagnostic systems developed for the general population for the diagnosis of anxiety disorders in adults with ID are frequently commented upon. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that anxiety disorders are well recognized in adults with ID, although their prevalence is uncertain, and that the use of modified diagnostic criteria may aid further research in this area.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2003 · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2788.47.s1.25.x