Assessment methods for diagnosis of Dementia

Standardized diagnostic criteria and procedures are proposed to further progress in the understanding and treatment of dementia in adults with intellectual disabilities. This chapter is a revised summary of previous reports prepared by participants of an international working group, which was conducted under the auspices of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability and the American Association on Mental Retardation. Similarities in diagnostic issues between adults with intellectual disability and those in the general population are discussed, followed by a summary of issues unique to adults with intellectual disability. A brief overview of the application of International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) diagnostic criteria to adults with intellectual disability is presented, including a description of procedures for determining whether criteria are met in individual cases. Finally, clinical and research recommendations are made.