• Oreste Theodoratos, Lyn McPherson, Catherine Franklin, Bruce Tonge, Stewart Einfeld, Nicholas Lennox, and Robert S Ware.
• Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability, MRI-UQ, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
• Australas Psychiatry. 2017 Oct 1; 25 (5): 481-485.

ObjectiveAdolescents with intellectual disability have increased rates of psychopathology compared with their typically developing peers and present to hospital more frequently for ambulant conditions. The aim of this study is to describe the psychopathology and related characteristics of a sample of adolescents with intellectual disability who presented to general hospital services.MethodWe investigated a cohort of adolescents with intellectual disability in South East Queensland, Australia between January 2006 and June 2010. Demographic and clinical data were obtained via mailed questionnaires and from general practice notes. Psychopathology was measured with the Short Form of the Developmental Behaviour Checklist.ResultsOf 98 individuals presenting to hospital, 71 (72.5%) had significant levels of psychopathology. Unknown aetiology for the intellectual disability was associated with presence of problem behaviours. Adolescents with more severe intellectual disability were more likely to have major problem behaviours. Co-morbid physical health issues were not associated with psychopathology. Only 12 (12.1%) adolescents had undergone specialized mental health intervention.ConclusionsThe general hospital environment may offer opportunities for liaison psychiatry services to screen and provide management expertise for adolescent individuals with intellectual disability presenting for physical health issues.

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