Psychosocial Factors Affecting Adults With Intellectual Disabilities With Psychiatric Disorders in Cali, Colombia

Inequities in diagnosis of Fragile X syndrome in Colombia

BACKGROUND

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In Colombia, there are no screening or testing protocols established for the diagnosis of FXS. In this study, we aimed to describe the diagnostic trends of FXS in Colombia.

METHODS

Data were included on 1322 individuals obtained based on data from the only 2 databases available. Sociodemographic information and data related to the diagnostic process were obtained and included in this study.

RESULTS

The average age at the time of diagnosis for individuals with the full mutation (FM) was of 26.9 ± 2.57 years and was strongly dependent on sex and socioeconomic status. Most individuals with a molecular diagnosis were from the main cities.

CONCLUSION

The overall age of diagnosis of FXS is later in life than reports from other countries. Restricted access to molecular testing through the national health system might explain this discrepancy in Colombia.

Family burden related to clinical and functional variables of people with intellectual disability with and without a mental disorder

Few studies have been found that to assess the factors that explain higher levels of family burden in adults with intellectual disability (ID) and intellectual disability and mental disorders (ID-MD). The aims of this study were to assess family burden in people with ID and ID-MD and to determine which sociodemographic, clinical and functional disability variables account for family burden. The sample is composed of pairs of 203 participants with disability and their caregivers, of which 33.5% are caregivers of people with ID and 66.5% of ID-MD. Assessments were performed using scales of clinical and functional disability as the following instruments: Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III), Inventory for Client and Agency Planning (ICAP), Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with Development Disability (PAS-ADD checklist), Disability Assessment Schedule of the World Health Organization (WHO-DAS-II) and family burden (Subjective and Objective Family Burden Inventory - SOFBI/ECFOS-II). People with ID-MD presented higher levels of functional disability than those with ID only. Higher levels of family burden were related to higher functional disability in all the areas (p<0.006-0.001), lower intelligence quotient (p<0.001), diagnosis of ID-MD (p<0.001) and presence of organic, affective, psychotic and behavioral disorders (p<0.001). Stepwise multiple regression showed that behavioral problems, affective and psychotic disorder, disability in participation in society, disability in personal care and presence of ID-MD explained more than 61% of the variance in family burden. An integrated approach using effective multidimensional interventions is essential for both people with ID and ID-MD and their caregivers in order to reduce family burden.