Psychiatria Danubina

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Intellectual Abilities, as defined in the twelfth edition of the classification manual of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, are a fundamental part of the rehabilitation process, also understood as functional rehabilitation or the rehabilitation of specific more or less complex functions, in a paradoxical game of mirrors even in the rehabilitation of intellectual functions themselves. Intellectual Disability changes the rules of the game, all the more radically the more severe it is, exacerbating the importance of multidimensional assessment of residual abilities and impaired functions on the basis of which to define realistic goals and choose the tools of rehabilitation and the ways of implementing therapeutic programs in a team effort that consists of the professionals, family and care givers, as well as the disabled person to the extent that he or she is able to actively participate in conducting his or her own rehabilitation...

We examine the role of media and new technologies in the representation and experience of disability. The text argues that media influence our cultural assumptions about disability while at the same time reflecting and shaping reality. The text analyses the opportunities and challenges that new technologies offer to people with disabilities, such as empowerment, self-expression, and social connection, but also exclusion, confrontation, shame, and falsification of identity. The text also shows that the meaning of disability is not unambiguous, but multiple and overlapping understandings coexist...

The robot assisted rehabilitation constitutes a recent therapeutic opportunity for the motor disorders in children with neurological disabilities. Robot-based devices are useful to promote improvements in sensorimotor and cognitive process. Robot-assisted rehabilitation is most frequently used in neurological disabilities of the upper limb and walking. They produce a controlled and repeatable therapy experience and allow quantitative evaluations of kinematics and kinetics to estimate the patient's progress...

Nowadays, artificial intelligence can be found in all areas of human life. It is strongly present also in the medical-health sector where, given the considerable opportunities it offers, some risks cannot be underestimated. For this reason, it is necessary to consider a regulation which protects human dignity without stopping technological development.

Supporting individuals with intellectual disability or related neurodevelopmental disabilities should access all available and types of supports that can enhance their personal independence, autonomy, health, safety, and overall quality of life. Herein we discuss the value of exploring the use of technology solutions as a under-utilized type of support used in our field. We briefly present the availability and benefits of using "smart home" technologies and remote support services technologies that can meet the support needs of this population and may also be a viable alternative to the heavy reliance on direct support professionals...

Disabled people, and particularly people with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder, experience significant health disparities compared to nondisabled people. These disparities are not explained by the underlying disabling condition but, rather, by unfair and avoidable conditions. One prevailing condition, implicit bias and discrimination against disabled patients in the healthcare sector, limits quality of care and health outcomes for this population. Most healthcare professionals have strong implicit bias against disabled people, which negatively impact clinical decision-making and the behavior of healthcare professionals toward disabled patients...

People with intellectual disability or related neurodevelopmental disorders may present the full range of psychiatric and behavioral disorders seen in the general population. In fact, research has shown that they are more susceptible to presenting psychiatric disorders and/or challenging behaviors. When a person with intellectual disability or a related neurodevelopmental disorder exhibits challenging behaviors, it is important to identify the underlying causes. These causes may be multifactorial. In this article we briefly discuss the elements of conducting a comprehensive assessment of the function of presenting challenging behaviors...

Mental health plays a crucial role in an individual's overall well-being, and it is widely recognized that many adult mental health disorders originate during childhood and adolescence. It is imperative to promptly recognize signs of psychological distress and clinically significant symptoms that can affect an individual's functioning from an early age. The growing prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents indeed highlights the significance of identifying both risk and protective factors...

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) enshrines the right of persons with disabilities to enjoy the highest standard of health and access to health care without discrimination, but persons with disabilities have logistical and assistive support needs that must be known in order to build a health service offer that meets their needs and respects their rights in line with the CRPD. Examples of accessibility of medical care include the removal of an architectural barrier, the adaptation of a protocol, and ensuring information about care is delivered using easy to understand means of communications...

BACKGROUND: Foodservice has an important role in health care: it is an indispensable tool for the prevention and treatment of diseases related to an impaired state of nutrition. The foodservice must reach an optimal level for nutritional and sensory quality, fundamental aspects for preparations aimed at users with physical and intellectual disabilities. The Serafico Institute in Assisi (SA) is a health care facility that houses disabled users and is concerned with their rehabilitation and with guaranteeing them an optimal quality of life...

The article describes the psychological support offered to parents of disabled children/youths through the structuring of mutual self-help meetings. The therapeutic approach, which is based on the principles of the Family Centered Care (FCC), has an experiential character. These meetings are especially important as they took place after a long period of forced distancing, due to the Covid 19 pandemic. We can see how this type of path fully responds to the needs of these parents and how it can be strategic for strengthening their capacity for resilience in the daily struggle for the quality of life of their children...

BACKGROUND: Within the domain of intellectual disability, evidence suggests a potential association with changes in the developmental pathways governing the maturation of interhemispheric communication mechanisms. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Through this study, our objective was to identify potential anomalies in interhemispheric transfer among individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Specifically, we investigated whether a significant difference exists in interhemispheric communication efficiency between DS and control participants of similar chronological age...

INTRODUCTION: Obese subjects undergoing bariatric surgery often display medical and psychiatric comorbidities, influencing post-operative course and long-term prognosis. Candidates for bariatric surgery are evaluated through a multidisciplinary assessment in the pre-operative phase, including a psychiatric visit. The psychiatric examination aims to screen psychiatric comorbidities, including feeding and eating disorders (FEDs). Indeed, there is evidence of the association between obesity and several psychiatric disorders, such as FEDs, but also anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, neurodevelopment disorders and personality disorders, particularly B and C cluster personalities...

BACKGROUND: Math anxiety (MA) is considered one of the variables that cause poor performance in contexts where mathematical competence is required. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The survey involved 28 Italian students in the first year of secondary school (corresponding to grade nine of English-speaking schools and of the Italian INVALSI evaluation system). The students, examined at the beginning of the school year, scored below the threshold of sufficiency in the calculation skills assessment test...

BACKGROUND: Assessment of pain in people with intellectual disability (PWID) is a difficult clinical task. Poor knowledge and confidence in assessing pain in PWID result in underestimation and undertreatment. Available resources for healthcare personnel and caregivers on pain assessment in PWID are still very limited. The aim of the study was to measure the level of knowledge and confidence in assessing pain in PWID of health and education personnel at Istituto Serafico, before and after training...

Cerebral maturation is characterized by different age-dependent molecular and cellular processes and follows a different course for grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM). During brain development, a crucial point seems to be represented by the establishment of a hemispheric specialization with the left hemisphere dominant for language and motor control and the right hemisphere dominant for visuospatial processing and attention. Therefore, motor and cognitive development are strongly connected. Atypical motor development and lateralization can be associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Language Disorder, Learning Disorders (Dysgraphia and Dyslexia), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder...

BACKGROUND: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is reported to be on the rise. However, instances of fasting have been noted since antiquity. Can modern diagnoses be applied to circumstances very different from our own? Is there a continuum of symptoms whose meanings have evolved over centuries, or is AN a recent development? SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A literature review was conducted. Twelve articles were found to be pertinent to the study, including several by Jacques Maître, who also published a book on the subject that was utilized...