Do comorbidities among patients with mental retardation differ across various age groups?

Distribution of comorbidities in patients with mental retardation or intellectual disabilities (MR/ID) across various age groups is not recognized adequately. Data from 426 patients diagnosed with MR/ID was collected out of 546 samples referred for intelligence assessment. 42.3% had psychiatric comorbidities. The prevalence ratio of psychiatric comorbidity associated with MR/ID was 2.11. Frequency of comorbidities in the order of occurrence was “behavioral impairment > Epilepsy > autism/ADHD” for age-groups 10years and below, and “behavioral impairment > Epilepsy > depression/anxiety” for age-groups 11years and above. We conclude that irrespective of age distribution, behavioral impairment followed by epilepsy are found to be the most common comorbidities.