OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of mental health problems in adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) and the number of adults with ID receiving care at general mental health clinics.

METHOD:

The Reiss Screen for Maladaptive Behaviour and the Psychopathology Inventory for Mentally Retarded Adults were used to investigate mental health problems in samples from two Swedish counties. Adults with ID receiving psychiatric care at general mental health clinics were investigated via the mental health services register in one county.

RESULTS:

The overall occurrence of mental health problems in adults with ID ranged from 34% to 64%. The most common mental health problems were aggressive, self-injurious behaviours, signs of depression, anxiety or adjustment problems. The occurrence of adults with ID among patients receiving out- or in-patient psychiatric care was approximately 1%. Between 70% and 90% of these persons had a mild level of ID.

CONCLUSION:

The overall occurrence of mental health problems was similar to reported overall figures in comparable studies conducted in the US, UK and Denmark. The number of adults with ID registered for out- or in-patient psychiatric care was low compared with the occurrence of mental health problems based on the screening results.