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Recurrent Brief Depression and Mild Learning Disability: Successful Community Management
Author(s) -
Clarke David J.,
MacLeod Marianne
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of the british institute of mental handicap (apex)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 0261-9997
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3156.1993.tb00705.x
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , medicine , learning disability , depressive symptoms , psychiatry , mental illness , challenging behaviour , pediatrics , mental health , anxiety , economics , macroeconomics
A 58 year old woman with a 30 year history of mental illness, and numerous hospital admissions, was assessed by two members of a community team for people with learning disability. A 10cm analogue scale (rated by her family) was used to record changes in her behaviour. A diagnosis of recurrent brief depression was made and appropriate pharmacological treatment and support provided without admission to hospital. A marked increase in the intervals between episodes of depression, and a shortening of depressive episode length, have been observed over 18 months of followup. Recurrent brief depression is a recently recognised sub‐type of depressive illness which may occur in association with learning disability. It is treatable, and assessment and treatment may be possible without recourse to hospital admission.