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35 - Intellectual disabilities across cultures

from Part V - Management with special groups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 August 2009

Jean O'Hara
Affiliation:
York Clinic 47 Weston Street Guy's Hospital London SE1 3RR UK
Nick Bouras
Affiliation:
King's College London Institute of Psychiatry The Estia Centre York Clinic – Guy's Hospital 47 Weston Street London SE1 3RR UK
Dinesh Bhugra
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
Kamaldeep Bhui
Affiliation:
Barts & The London, Queen Mary School of Medicine and Dentistry
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Summary

EDITORS' INTRODUCTION

Learning disability, which is still known by the term mental retardation in many parts of the world, carries additional psychiatric morbidity with it. Not only are there implications for the individual but also for the carers and the community alike. Cultural practices such as consanguineous marriages may play a role in the aetiology of learning or intellectual disabilities. Other environmental factors, such as dietary deficiencies, may contribute to its causation. Rarely are these individuals seen as suffering from medical conditions, and thus help-seeking may be delayed. Co-morbidity with infections like cysticercosis and epilepsy make management of such individuals complex. The social relationships and educational attainments may influence outcome.

O'Hara and Bouras use the term intellectual disability as a complex label which involves an interaction between biogenetic and socio-cultural factors. The labelling of the condition is powerful and can result in an individual being excluded from mainstream society. Increased social distance without adequate management strategies with educational and psychological components means that individuals can become further isolated. O'Hara and Bouras point to historical evidence indicating how people with disabilities were seen over four millennia ago. The social response was partly determined by religion. Negative views towards individuals with disabilities have been reported for centuries. As social and gender roles of individuals vary across cultures, the concepts of social inclusion remain simply that – concepts only – in many cultures. Epidemiological data on prevalence of intellectual disability across cultures indicate differences which can be attributed to a number of factors. Mild intellectual disability is much more prevalent.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2007

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  • Intellectual disabilities across cultures
    • By Jean O'Hara, York Clinic 47 Weston Street Guy's Hospital London SE1 3RR UK, Nick Bouras, King's College London Institute of Psychiatry The Estia Centre York Clinic – Guy's Hospital 47 Weston Street London SE1 3RR UK
  • Edited by Dinesh Bhugra, Institute of Psychiatry, London, Kamaldeep Bhui
  • Book: Textbook of Cultural Psychiatry
  • Online publication: 11 August 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511543609.037
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  • Intellectual disabilities across cultures
    • By Jean O'Hara, York Clinic 47 Weston Street Guy's Hospital London SE1 3RR UK, Nick Bouras, King's College London Institute of Psychiatry The Estia Centre York Clinic – Guy's Hospital 47 Weston Street London SE1 3RR UK
  • Edited by Dinesh Bhugra, Institute of Psychiatry, London, Kamaldeep Bhui
  • Book: Textbook of Cultural Psychiatry
  • Online publication: 11 August 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511543609.037
Available formats
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Intellectual disabilities across cultures
    • By Jean O'Hara, York Clinic 47 Weston Street Guy's Hospital London SE1 3RR UK, Nick Bouras, King's College London Institute of Psychiatry The Estia Centre York Clinic – Guy's Hospital 47 Weston Street London SE1 3RR UK
  • Edited by Dinesh Bhugra, Institute of Psychiatry, London, Kamaldeep Bhui
  • Book: Textbook of Cultural Psychiatry
  • Online publication: 11 August 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511543609.037
Available formats
×