Intellectual Handicap in Contemporary Psychiatry

Objective: To apprise readers of the ‘state of play’ in the psychiatry of intellectual handicap. Method: A review was conducted of relevant journals and conference abstracts covering a range of scientific aspects of intellectual disability. Those developments considered to be most significant were summarised. In addition, consideration is given to issues relevant to the politics of disability affecting psychiatric practice in Australia. Results: There have been considerable developments in our understanding of the pathogenesis of intellectual handicap in pharmacotherapy and the behavioural therapies, in the taxonomy of psychopathology, in epidemiology, in delineation of behaviour phenotypes, and in assessment and measurement of psychopathology. Conclusion: Intellectual handicap and psychiatry have had a chequered relationship in Australia, but the two fields are now clearly moving again to a closer and more productive collaboration. Recent scientific advances have provided a stimulating environment for this increased activity and interest.