The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.

SMJ // Article

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.

This content is limited to qualifying members.

Existing members, please login first

If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.

Purchase only this article ($25)

Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.

Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75)

Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.

Purchase a membership plan (fees vary)

Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.

References

1. Bryan J, Rabinowitz C, Edwards L, et al. Primary care of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities clinic: coordination of care challenges. South Med J 2023;116:355–357.
 
2. Scheerenberger R. A History of Mental Retardation. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing; 1983.
 
3. Jirik KN. American Institutions for the Feeble-Minded, 1876–1916 [PhD thesis], Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota; 2019. https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/206259.
 
4. Shorter E. The Kennedy Family and the Story of Mental Retardation. Philadelphia: Temple University Press; 2000.
 
5. Administration for Community Living, Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, US Department of Health and Human Services. Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DDAct) history: UCEDD new directors orientation. https://www.aucd.org/docs/urc/New%20Directors%20Orientation/UCEDD%20New_Directors_%20DDAct.pdf. Accessed September 6, 2023.
 
6. US Department of Health and Human Services. Closing the gap: a national blueprint to improve the health of persons with mental retardation: Report of the Surgeon General’s Conference on Health Disparities and Mental Retardation. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44346/. Published 2002. Accessed September 6, 2023.
 
7. Fenton SJ, Hood H, Holder M, et al. The American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry: eliminating health disparities for individuals with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. J Dent Educ 2003;67:1337–1344.
 
8. Rader R. The emergence of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry: educating clinicians about the challenges and rewards of treating patients with special health care needs. Pediat Dent 2007;29:134–137.
 
9. Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry. The role of Title VII, Section 747 in preparing primary care practitioners to care for the underserved and other high-risk groups and vulnerable populations. https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/advisorycommittees/primarycare-dentist/reports/report-2006.pdf. Published March 2008. Accessed September 6, 2023.
 
10. American Medical Association. Report of the Council on Medical Service: Designation of the Intellectually Disabled as a Medically Underserved Population (Resolution 805-I-10) CMS Report 3-I-11.https://www.ama-assn.org/sites/ama-assn.org/files/corp/media-browser/public/about-ama/councils/Council%20Reports/council-on-medical-service/i11-cms-value-based-decision-making.pdf. Published 2010. Accessed September 6, 2023.
 
11. Sullivan WF, Diepstra H, Heng J, et al. Primary care of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: 2018 Canadian consensus guidelines. Can Fam Physician 2018;64:254–279.
 
12. Keller S, Turek G, Asato M, et al. Complexities of caring and transitioning care for patients with intellectual or developmental disability. Neurol Rev (suppl) 2020;March:124–131.
 
13. Holder M, Waldman B, Hood H. Preparing health professionals to provide care to individuals with disabilities. Int J Oral Sci 2009;1:66–71.
 
14. Ankam N, Bosques G, Sauter C, et al. Competency-based curriculum development to meet the needs of people with disabilities: a call to action. Acad Med 2019;94:781–788.
 
15. McMahon M, Hatton C. A comparison of the prevalence of health problems among adults with and without intellectual disability: a total administrative population study. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil 2021;34:316–325.
 
16. Edwards J, Mold F, Knivett D, et al. Quality improvement of physical health monitoring for people with intellectual disabilities: an integrative review. J Intellect Disabil Res 2018;62:199–216.
 
17. Trumble S. Defining the Discipline of Developmental Disability Medicine [PhD thesis]. Victoria, Melbourne, Australia: Monash University; 1998.
   
19. Kornblau BL. The case for designating people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as a medically underserved population. https://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/MUP_ASAN_PolicyBrief_20140329.pdf. Published April 2014. Accessed September 6, 2023.