Perspectives

Historical Perspective Regarding Health Care of Adults with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Authors: Philip May, MD, Rif S. El-Mallakh, MD

Abstract

A recent perspective published in the Southern Medical Journal highlights the problem that medical care for adults with intellectual and/or development disabilities (IDD) is suboptimal because clinicians caring for these individuals frequently lack appropriate training to address their unique needs.1 This state of affairs is the result of historical circumstances, and to improve medical care for people with IDD, one must understand how we arrived at this point.

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