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BACKGROUND Mental health conditions are common among individuals with intellectual disability. Under recognition of mental health disorders leading to unmet treatment needs is common in this population. This article addresses one major contributing factor, the lack of cognitively accessible self-report measures for individuals with intellectual disability. METHOD In this literature-informed overview of the state of the field, we discuss the need for, and complexities of, including individuals with intellectual disability in mental health assessments. RESULTS With appropriate supports, many individuals with intellectual disability can respond to mental health questions. We discuss evidence-based strategies to make mental health assessments more accessible. CONCLUSION We highlight the need to engage individuals with intellectual disability to provide first-hand information about their health and well-being. New instruments and research procedures should be developed in partnership with individuals with intellectual disability. Self-report may be essential to advancing the science of mental health research.

This qualitative study was carried out in Spain with the aim of identifying the changes that the health system should make to improve healthcare access for older adults with intellectual disability. Three hundred and sixty-nine family members and professionals expressed their opinion on how healthcare access could be improved. Participants responded to two open-ended questions included in a general survey about the health status of older individuals with intellectual disability. Most informants were women and professionals who had known the person with intellectual disability for more than 12 months. A system of categories, which showed good inter-rater agreement, was developed to analyse participants' written responses. Both family members and professionals emphasized the need to improve disability training for healthcare practitioners and highlighted the urgent need for flexibility in the structure of a healthcare system that currently overlooks the specific needs of this vulnerable population.

Background Considering the growing body of studies investigating the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on caregivers supporting people with developmental disabilities, the current study aimed to explore the role that the cognitive processes of mindfulness, coping style and resilience played in predicting caregiver retention and burnout among a sample of direct support professionals working with aggressive adults with developmental disabilities. Methods Ninety-seven direct support professionals were surveyed to determine level of mindfulness, coping styles, resilience and burnout and were interviewed 3 months later to determine if they were still working with the aggressive adult. Results Mindfulness skills of describing non-judgmentally and observing one's environment, as well as problem-focused coping, emerged as protective factors against burnout, while avoidance-focused and maladaptive coping emerged as risk factors. Mindful openness acted as the only predictor of job retention. Conclusions These results support that paid caregivers should receive trainings in mindfulness and positive coping mechanisms as part of their job trainings, to promote positive outcomes for both themselves and the people they support.

BACKGROUND The intellectual disability field has learned about the lives of people with intellectual disabilities (ID), largely from the perspective of their family and caregivers. Information from caregivers has been critical to scientific advancement, especially when caregivers are engaged on behalf of individuals with significant language impairment. On the other hand, the perspective of individuals with ID themselves is critical for internal subjective content such as thoughts and feelings. METHODS Participants were 90 adults with ID and a proxy of their choosing. RESULTS Overall, self and caregiver report were significantly related for subjective health but varied for physical activity, social support and stress. CONCLUSIONS These findings add to the growing literature establishing the importance of considering the self-report of adults with ID, particularity when the subject matter focuses on internal thoughts or feelings. Clinical considerations for the use of self and proxy report are discussed.

The authors assessed available prevalence information regarding neuropsychiatric conditions among adults with Down syndrome (DS) and compared these findings among adults with other intellectual disability (non-DS). The study entailed a survey of 291 adults with DS living in Ohio (USA). Twenty-three percent of adults with DS reported having a co-occurring psychiatric disorder, a smaller than the reported occurrence of such conditions in the general adult intellectual disability population. Depression, anxiety disorders, and dementia or Alzheimer's disease were the most frequently reported neuropsychiatric disorders by adults with DS. The likelihood of experiencing a psychiatric disorder increased with age but did not vary by sex among adults with DS. Lower rates of problem behavior were reported in adults with DS compared to adults with intellectual disability (non-DS). The authors' findings indicate that adults with DS may present different rates and types of co-occurring psychiatric disorders than the larger population of adults with other intellectual disability. These findings warrant additional research and could provide critical information for planning and intervention.