Utility of modified DCR-10 criteria in the diagnosis of depression associated with intellectual disability

Abstract

A retrospective study of 11 inpatients with intellectual disability who received antidepressant treatment over a 12-month period indicated the utility of minor modifications to DCR-10 criteria in the diagnosis of depressive illness. The modifications were made by adding items found in previous research to be behavioural equivalents of depression in people with severe intellectual disability to DCR-10 criteria. The time course of symptom response to antidepressant treatment was documented. All 11 patients had a remission of depressive symptoms, as described by the modified criteria, within 5 weeks of starting antidepressant treatment.