Personality Disorders in Patients with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Both individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and individuals with personality disorders represent populations that require unique interactions with healthcare providers and consist of high utilizers of the healthcare system. The intersectionality of these diagnoses poses further considerations in diagnosis and management. This article describes two fictional case studies intended to illustrate, examine, and identify symptomology of individuals with these comorbid diagnoses and establish recommendations for evidence-based management of these individuals. While personality disorders should not be diagnosed in individuals with severe and profound ID, they can and should be diagnosed in patients with mild or moderate ID who have characteristic symptoms and meet diagnostic criteria. Management for these diagnoses focuses on themes of consistency, safety, staff education, and goal-based behavioral objectives. Care must be taken in ruling out confounding factors and overlapping symptomology, but appropriate comorbid diagnoses can aid in apposite treatment, reduce stigma, and improve quality of life.

Keywords: Personality disorder; antisocial personality; borderline personality; developmental disability; intellectual disability; psychiatric treatment; psychotherapy.