Anxiety, Depression, and Care Barriers in Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Are anxiety, depression, and barriers to mental health care more prevalent among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) than those without functional limitations?In this cross-sectional study of 44 478 US adults from the 2021, 2022, and 2023 National Health Interview Surveys, adults with IDDs had a higher prevalence of diagnosed anxiety and depression, more frequent and severe symptoms, greater psychiatric medication use, and more cost-related barriers to counseling or therapy than adults without functional limitations.These findings suggest that adults with IDDs experience significant mental health disparities and barriers to care, indicating a need for disability-informed mental health services and policies.

Corresponding Author: Dimitri Christakis, MD, MPH, Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 1920 Terry Ave, Seattle WA 98101 (dchristakis@specialolympics.org).

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