| dc.description.abstract | With government mandates to deinstitutionalize it is
important to investigate the prevalence of dual diagnosis
(developmental handicap with accompanying mental illness) in
institutional settings for persons with a developmental handicap.
Assessment for mental illness of 71 institutionalized
developmentally handicapped adults was done using the Reiss
Screen for Maladaptive Behavior (Reiss, 1988). Prevalence of
dual diagnosis, identified by the Reiss Screen, was 69%. The
most frequent categories of dual diagnosis were Aggression
disorder. Sexual problems. Self-injurious behaviour, and
Stealing. The Reiss Screen identified a much higher prevalence
of dual diagnosis than either previous or current psychiatric
diagnosis. There was a high level of dual diagnosis regardless
of level of functioning; however, the type of pathology varied
considerably across levels of functioning. Despite lack of
validation of the Reiss Screen by previous and current
psychiatric diagnosis, the Reiss Screen may in fact be a useful
and valid instrument for measuring those maladaptive behaviours
that prevent dually diagnosed and other developmentally
handicapped persons from successful community placement. The
high prevalence of persons with these behaviours has implications
for planning and implementing support services in the community. | |
