Guide to Intellectual Disabilities: A Clinical Handbook

This book covers a curriculum of topics for treating patients with co-occurring intellectual disabilities and mental illness, better known as dual diagnosis (DD). Though these patients represent approximately three percent of the population, they are largely underserved due to a huge gap in the literature and limited training on this topic among non-psychiatric practitioners. They are often medically fragile and have co-occurring seizure disorders and other neurologic conditions, frequently presenting to psychiatrists with behavior problems when in fact they have undiagnosed, under-diagnosed or undertreated medical conditions.  A medical professional who is not trained to spot the nuanced symptoms can therefore be unprepared to work with such patients.  They may misdiagnose, inappropriately prescribe medications, and fail to employ the best practices as a result.  This is particularly problematic because such patients often function at significantly higher levels when accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated.

Julie P. Gentile MD
Professor and Chair
Wright State University 
Department of Psychiatry
627 Edwin C. Moses Blvd
E. Medical Plaza
Dayton OH 45417  

Allison E. Cowan MD
Assistant Professor 
Wright State University 
Department of Psychiatry
627 Edwin C. Moses Blvd
E. Medical Plaza
Dayton OH 45417 

David W. Dixon DO
Capt, United States Air Force
Staff Psychiatrist 
San Antonio Military Medical Center