Psychiatric disorders in adults with cerebral palsy.
Adults with cerebral palsy, especially those who also have ID, face much higher odds of psychiatric disorders, so screen early and often.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team pulled adult medical records. They counted how many people with cerebral palsy also had a psychiatric diagnosis.
They split the group by whether the person also had an intellectual disability.
What they found
Adults with CP had more mental-health diagnoses than the general public.
The risk jumped even higher when CP and ID occurred together.
How this fits with other research
Griffith et al. (2012) saw the same pattern in kids: over half of five-year-olds with CP already had a psychiatric label.
Rackauskaite et al. (2016) used a parent checklist and likewise found that half of school-age kids with CP screened positive for psychopathology.
The new adult data extend those childhood numbers. They show the burden lasts a lifetime.
Bhaumik et al. (2008) and Roane et al. (2001) looked only at adults with ID and found similar high rates. Together the papers trace one long arc: psychiatric risk starts early in CP and stays high, especially when ID is also present.
Why it matters
If you serve adults with CP, add a quick mental-health screen to every intake. Watch for mood, anxiety, and behavior signs, and make the referral before crisis hits.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common neurological conditions in childhood. Individuals with CP often experience various secondary conditions, including intellectual disability (ID), medical conditions, and psychiatric issues. A large number of youth with CP have psychiatric disorders; however, few studies have examined the prevalence of psychiatric issues in adults with CP at the population-level. AIMS: To investigate the prevalence and co-occurrence of psychiatric disorders at the population-level in adults with CP only, and adults with CP and ID. METHOD AND PROCEDURES: Using clinical information from seven Canadian data sources, we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of adults with CP, with and without ID. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Adults with CP were more likely than the general population to have a psychiatric diagnosis, independent of ID status. All psychiatric disorders were more common in individuals with CP than the general population, with the exception of addiction related disorders. In most cases, having an ID substantially increased the risk of having a psychiatric disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with CP are at heightened risk for experiencing psychiatric disorders. Current findings highlight the important role health care providers play in screening for psychiatric issues in individuals with CP.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2021 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103859