Exploring the specific needs of an understudied group: Children with intellectual disability in residential child care

Children and adolescents who live in out of home care in the child protection system are considered to be vulnerable to manifesting mental health disorders as well as other types of difficulties. This risk is greater in the case of children who display any type of disability. The aim of this study is to profile the state of health and well-being of a group of children presenting intellectual disability who live in residential care in a Spanish autonomous community and to compare these results with their non-disabled peers. Two questionnaires filled in by the caseworker and key residential worker, respectively, were used and a screening test (CBCL) was administered to assess the children's emotional and behavioral status. The results indicate that there are more vulnerability factors in this group of children comparing to their peers; in particular, a greater likelihood of having parents with a history of mental health and alcoholism and greater frequency of intellectual disability in their mothers. Likewise, they had a greater probability of having suffered physical abuse. The screening revealed the existence of greater alterations on the scale of social and thought problems, as well as a greater probability of being referred for treatment and greater use of psychotropic medication. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.