Challenges in Diagnosing Depression
While depression is common in individuals with I/DD, it may not be easy to recognize or diagnose. This is often because depression tends to present differently in this population. Some of the most common challenges to diagnosis are:
Recognizing the significance of symptoms
When individuals with I/DD exhibit symptoms, caregivers and family members may assume they are part of the I/DD rather than indicators of depression that require evaluation.
Misdiagnosis
Symptoms of depression can be misdiagnosed as another condition, like early-stage dementia or hypothyroidism, that is also common in individuals with I/DD.
Staff turnover
Recognizing depression depends on seeing patterns of changing behavior. If staff turnover is high, caregivers may not work with an individual long enough to recognize that their behavior has changed.
Communication barriers
Individuals with I/DD may not speak up about the symptoms they're experiencing or know how to articulate what they’re feeling. They may also be unsure of why they’re being assessed by a clinician and may not cooperate.