Original identifiers of mental retardation in a clinic population.

The original identifiers of mental retardation for a group of almost 500 consecutive admissions to a state-operated outpatient clinic were determined. The great majority of these community clients who were previously identified as mentally retarded had been diagnosed by a physician or a public or private health-related agency. More clients identified by a private physician were found on reevaluation to be at less severe levels of retardation than were the clients seen by public health-related agencies.