Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Contributors
- United Nations Statement
- 1 Physical and sexual abuse of children
- 2 Intimate partner violence
- 3 Sexual assault
- 4 The geriatric patient
- 5 Mentally ill or cognitively impaired patients
- 6 Immigrants and ethnic minority populations
- 7 Care of victims of torture
- 8 Trafficking victims
- 9 Forensic photography
- Index
- Plate section
- References
5 - Mentally ill or cognitively impaired patients
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 August 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Contributors
- United Nations Statement
- 1 Physical and sexual abuse of children
- 2 Intimate partner violence
- 3 Sexual assault
- 4 The geriatric patient
- 5 Mentally ill or cognitively impaired patients
- 6 Immigrants and ethnic minority populations
- 7 Care of victims of torture
- 8 Trafficking victims
- 9 Forensic photography
- Index
- Plate section
- References
Summary
Goals and objectives
To understand the increased risk of abuse that faces mentally ill and intellectually disabled (ID) people
To learn to identify, manage, and refer patients who are mentally ill or intellectually disabled who have been abused
Abuse of mentally ill and intellectually disabled people
Overview
Mentally ill and intellectually disabled people are among the vulnerable populations more likely to be victimized and abused. Obstacles to reporting abuse within these disenfranchised groups have made this problem more difficult to chronicle, treat, and prevent. This chapter will provide an overview of the prevalence of abuse, the types of abuse, and strategies for better reporting and preventing abuse within the psychosocially vulnerable cohorts of mentally ill and intellectually disabled patients.
Abuse is a public health issue. Maltreatment can lead to physical trauma, emotional trauma, and even death. Mentally ill patients are prone to worsening of their psychiatric condition after being abused. Intellectually disabled patients may suffer worsening of their primary disability, or, they may develop secondary disabilities resulting from the victimization. In both populations, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse aggravates the pre-existing condition, requiring additional health interventions and both medical and psychological assistance.
Abuse of the intellectually disabled
Definition of intellectually disabled
Intellectually disabled (ID) people are defined as individuals who have unique needs with regards to information processing. Intellectual disability can be congenital or acquired through accident or disease. The disability can affect memory, learning, speaking, problem solving, and other cognitive skills.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Emergency Care of the Abused , pp. 150 - 168Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008