Adults with intellectual disability and the GP

Abstract

Background: General practitioners are the health professionals most commonly consulted by people with intellectual disability. This group of patients can provide unique but not insurmountable challenges to the GP.

Objective: This article outlines the management of this group of patients, and provides strategies for treatment using a case vignette.

Discussion: While people with intellectual disability frequently have unidentified and/or sub-optimally managed conditions, improvement in their health care can be made through a variety of strategies. These include maximising communication and cooperation with all those involved and ensuring adequate information from support staff. Regular health assessments, which specifically target the commonly associated comorbidity and health screening activities, are also a useful approach. Through collaboration and proactive health care, the quality of life of patients with an intellectual disability can be substantially improved.