Guide to Intellectual Disabilities: A Clinical Handbook

This book covers a curriculum of topics for treating patients with co-occurring intellectual disabilities and mental illness, better known as dual diagnosis (DD). It highlights the lack of literature and training on this topic among non-psychiatric practitioners, who may misdiagnose and undertreat these patients. Written by experts, it covers psychiatric and medical assessment, neurologic conditions, interviewing techniques, medications, and other issues. It is designed for physicians who need quick access to information and includes case vignettes and practical information.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 254 pages
\n Publication date: 21 February 2019
\n Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG
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This comprehensive book delves into the treatment of patients with co-occurring intellectual disabilities and mental illness, commonly referred to as dual diagnosis (DD). Despite comprising approximately three percent of the population, these individuals face significant underservedness due to a substantial lack of literature and limited training among non-psychiatric practitioners. These patients often exhibit medical fragility and co-occur with seizure disorders and other neurologic conditions, frequently presenting to psychiatrists with behavioral issues when their underlying medical conditions go undiagnosed, underdiagnosed, or undertreated.

A medical professional lacking specialized training in recognizing the intricate symptoms of DD patients may find themselves unprepared to collaborate effectively. This can lead to misdiagnoses, inappropriate medication prescriptions, and failure to employ optimal treatment approaches. It is particularly concerning because these patients often demonstrate remarkable improvement when accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated. Authored by esteemed experts in the field, this text comprehensively covers psychiatric and medical assessments of DD patients, neurologic conditions, interviewing techniques, medications, and various other topics DD patients may encounter. Additionally, it addresses a wide range of issues surrounding DD patients that physicians often grapple with, including their interactions with the legal system, human rights concerns, strategies for working with families and caregivers, and ethical considerations.

The book is meticulously designed to provide physicians with quick access to information in both print and digital formats. Each chapter begins with case vignettes to vividly illustrate specific scenarios, followed by concise and practical information. Throughout, the text employs a user-friendly approach, making it accessible to a broad audience of healthcare professionals.

\n Weight: 356g\n
Dimension: 203 x 127 x 15 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9783030044558\n
Edition number: 1st ed. 2019\n