Recently, Dr. Tsiouris and his team of New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities have investigated the complex relationship between psychiatric disorders and aggression in people with intellectual disability.
Many studies indicate a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). More uncertain is the data with respect to children. A recent irish research found a particularly high rate of anxiety disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Increasingly evidences confirm that the neuropeptide oxytocin modulate cognitive social skills and consequent behaviours. this substance could be the basis for new pharmachlogical treatments for the relational development disorders.
Children born to mothers suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder o major depression have a risk three times higer to develop intellectual disability compared with children born to mothers without a psychiatric disorder in clinical history.