Experience and attitudes of general psychiatrists in Turkiye towards persons with intellectual disability/intellectual developmental disorders: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background: The global burden of psychiatric care of intellectual disabilities/intellectual developmental disorders (IDD) remains unaddressed in general. The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge and attitudes of general adult psychiatry practitioners in Turkiye. Methods: A self-administered cross-sectional survey was conducted to gather information regarding the medical and postgraduate training experiences, views, and attitudes towards IDD (n = 265). Results: Among the respondents, 47.9% reported receiving some training on IDD in medical school, and 75.4% during residency training. Almost all respondents felt strongly that further specialty training would be beneficial. Majority of respondents indicated that they would be willing to see patients with IDD despite finding it difficult to diagnose/manage their co-occurring mental disorders. The most common mental health problem endorsed was ‘challenging behaviour’. The most prescribed psychotropic medication class was antipsychotics. Conclusions: The results of the study highlight need for training, normalization, and enhancement of community inclusion in IDD.