Repeat Emergency Department Visits for Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Psychiatric Disorders.

Durbin et al. (2019) tracked adults who have both intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) and psychiatric disorders. They asked a simple question: do these adults come back to the emergency room more often than adults who only have psychiatric disorders?

The team looked at 30-day repeat visits. They compared two groups: IDD plus mental health issues versus mental health issues alone.

Adults with IDD returned to the ER within 30 days more than the psychiatric-only group. Having IDD on top of mental illness raised the risk of a quick comeback.

In short, IDD is a red flag for high ER use, even when mental health care is already in play.

Ohan et al. (2015) saw the same 30-day bounce-backs in the UK, but they blamed poor hospital care, not the patients. Their data showed most returns were preventable, hinting that quality gaps, not just IDD, drive the cycle.

Stofleth et al. (2022) widened the lens. Their review of 16 studies found autistic adults of all ages use ER and inpatient care at least as much as non-autistic adults. Anna’s IDD adults fit neatly into that bigger picture.

Iannuzzi et al. (2022) moved the focus younger. Autistic teens and young adults also land in the ER more, often for problems that could be handled in primary care. The pattern starts early and carries into adulthood.

If you serve adults with IDD, expect them back in the ER within a month. Build a 30-day check-in call or telehealth visit into your discharge plan. Teach caregivers red-flag symptoms and who to call first. Loop in primary care and mental health providers before the patient walks out the door. A quick hand-off can turn a repeat ER visit into a quick phone fix.