Overview

'Mental Retardation' or 'Intellectual Disability': Time for a Conceptual Change
Luis Salvador-Carulla, Marco Bertelli

WPA Section 'Psychiatry of Mental Retardation/Intellectual Disability', Jerez, Spain

Address of Corresponding Author

Psychopathology 2008;41:10-16 (DOI: 10.1159/000109950)

  Key Words

• Intellectual disability
• Mental retardation
• Developmental cognitive impairment

  Abstract

Background: The term 'mental retardation' (MR) is outdated and has changed to 'intellectual disability' (ID). Unfortunately, this decision did not follow a nosology approach. The aim of this overview is twofold: (1) to provide a conceptual background and framing on the ID/MR field to other psychiatrists, and (2) to provide a nosology-based perspective to the debate on the name and concept of MR/ID. Method: This conceptual paper is based on a literature review and on an iterative process of debate within the WPA Section 'Psychiatry of Mental Retardation'. Results: ID may be regarded not as a disease or as a disability but as a syndrome grouping (metasyndrome) similar to the construct of dementia. It includes a heterogeneous group of clinical conditions, ranging from genetic to nutritional, infectious, metabolic or neurotoxic conditions. The ID metasyndrome is characterized by a deficit in cognitive functioning prior to the acquisition of skills through learning. The intensity of the deficit is such to interfere in a significant way with individual normal functioning as expressed in limitations in activities and restriction in participation (disabilities). Conclusions: The name 'developmental cognitive impairment' is here suggested to coexist with ID for naming the metasyndrome previously called MR following a polysemic-polynomious approach.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Luis Salvador-Carulla, MD
Section 'Psychiatry of Mental Retardation/Intellectual Disability'
World Psychiatric Association
San Marcos 6, Jerez 11403 (Spain)
Tel. +34 956 311 587, Fax +34 956 331 759, E-Mail luis.salvador@telefonica.net

  Article Information

Received: August 7, 2006
Accepted: November 14, 2006
Published online: October 18, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 24