[Psychological disorders in mental handicap--prevalence and psychopathologic characteristics].

This review of studies on the prevalence of mental disorders in adults with mental retardation comes to the following principal conclusions: Mainly due to research problems and psychiatry's disinterest there continues to be limited epidemiological findings; compared with people of normal intelligence the prevalence rate of mental disorders is about 50% higher in mild mental retardation and 2-3 fold higher in severe mental retardation; substance abuse or -dependence as well as neurotic disturbances may be less prevalent while self-injurious behaviour seems to be rather specific for subjects with mental retardation. As far as factor analytic studies are concerned the two syndromes of irritability and lethargy may play a major role in the psychopathology of severe mental retardation.