MENTAL HEALTH IN CHILDREN WITH MENTAL RETARDATION

Children with mental retardation display behaviour problems more often and are much more mentally disturbed than their peers with normal development. The reasons for this difference are biological and developmental factors, as well as specific social interaction and frequent conflicts with their surroundings. Symptoms of mental illnesses in these children may be different from those in children with normal development. Psychiatric diagnostics may be difficult. For an appropriate diagnostics and treatment of these children, an adequate knowledge of different professionals cooperating in a multidisciplinary team (among which also a psychiatrist) is necessary. The specialist knowledge concerning the diagnostics and the treatment of these individuals has made significant advances during the last two decades in the countries of Western Europe. Organised mental health care and specialised institutions to help this population exist in many countries. This sort of care does not exist in Croatia. The article presents a short survey of the current situation in this field and some critical remarks regarding the current situation in Croatia.

Keywords
mental retardation, mental health, mental illness, diagnostics, treatment