Gender differences in psychiatric diagnoses among inpatients with and without intellectual disabilities.
Among adult inpatients with ID, women are more likely to carry mood disorder and sexual abuse history, men substance abuse and legal issues—screen accordingly.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Lunsky et al. (2009) read the charts of 1,971 adult inpatients. Half had intellectual disability, half did not. The team counted every psychiatric diagnosis and noted each patient’s sex.
No interviews, no tests—just the records already in the hospital computer.
What they found
Women with ID arrived with more mood disorders and sexual-abuse histories. Men with ID carried more substance-abuse and legal-problem flags.
The same split showed up in patients without ID, but the gaps were wider in the ID group.
How this fits with other research
Emerson et al. (2023) saw a similar pattern in autism: girls plus ID show more severe social and behavior problems than boys plus ID. The two studies line up—when ID is in the mix, gender gaps grow.
Noordenbos et al. (2012) looked only at offenders with ID and still found the highest sexual-abuse histories in women. Yona’s wider inpatient sample extends that finding beyond the justice system.
Lecavalier et al. (2006) and Slayter (2010) both found that men with ID are the ones who misuse alcohol and drugs. Yona’s chart review confirms the same male skew inside the hospital walls.
Why it matters
When you open a new case, let the client’s gender point you toward the most likely hidden risks. Screen women with ID for trauma and mood disorders first. Screen men with ID for substance use and legal trouble. These five-minute probes can steer you to the right assessments and faster treatment.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
There are few published studies on the relationship between gender and psychiatric disorders in individuals with intellectual disabilities. Adults (N = 1,971) with and without intellectual disabilities who received inpatient services for psychiatric diagnosis and clinical issues were examined. Among individuals with intellectual disabilities, women were more likely to have a diagnosis of mood disorder and sexual abuse history; men were more likely to have a substance abuse diagnosis, legal issues, and past destructive behavior. Gender difference patterns found for individuals with intellectual disabilities were similar to those of persons without intellectual disabilities, with the exception of eating disorder and psychotic disorder diagnoses. Gender issues should receive greater attention in intellectual disabilities inpatient care.
American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilities, 2009 · doi:10.1352/2009.114:52-60