Executive Functions and Attention Processes in Adolescents and Young Adults with Intellectual Disability.

(1) Background: We made a comprehensive evaluation of executive functions (EFs) and attention processes in a group of adolescents and young adults with mild intellectual disability (ID). (2) Methods: 27 adolescents and young adults (14 females and 13 males) with ID, aged between 15.1 and 23 years (M = 17.4; SD = 2.04), were compared to a control group free of cognitive problems and individually matched for gender and age. (3) Results: As for EFs, individuals with ID were severely impaired on all subtests of the Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) battery. However, we also found appreciable individual differences, with eight individuals (approximately 30%) scoring within normal limits. On the attention tests, individuals with ID were not generally slower but presented specific deficits only on some attention tests (i.e., Choice Reaction Times, Color Naming and Color-Word Interference, and Shifting of Attention for Verbal and for Visual Targets).The role of a global factor (i.e., cognitive speed) was modest in contributing to the group differences; i.e., when present, group differences were selectively associated with specific task manipulations, not global differences in cognitive speed. (4) Conclusions: The study confirmed large group differences in EFs; deficits in attentional processing were more specific and occurred primarily in tasks taxing the selective dimension of attention, with performance on intensive tasks almost entirely spared.

The evolution of self-injurious behaviors in people with intellectual disability and epilepsy: A follow-up study.

PURPOSE: Longitudinal studies of the evolution of Self-Injurious Behaviors (SIBs) in people with Intellectual Disability (ID) and epilepsy are not common. This study aimed to analyze the evolution (in terms of remission and persistence) and changes in the type, localization, frequency, and intensity of SIBs. METHODS: SIBs were assessed in a sample of 52 people with ID and epilepsy, and re-evaluated after a seven-year interval, using the "Scale for the Assessment of Self-Injurious Behaviors". The scale was administered to caregivers (parents or health professionals) through a semi-structured interview conducted by a specifically trained psychologist. RESULTS: The most frequent types of SIBs identified were: self-biting, self-hitting with objects, self-hitting with hand, object-finger in cavities. The main localizations of SIBs were: hands, mouth, head and cheeks. SIBs were found to be maintained after seven years, for type, localization, frequency, and intensity, in 90.4% of the sample. SIB types were stable over time, as were the affected areas. Global SIB frequency and intensity scores were found to be unchanged. Finally, a positive correlation was found between the frequency of SIBs and levels of intellectual disability. SIBs (frequency and intensity) and seizure frequency showed no correlation. CONCLUSION: Given the negative impact of SIBs on the adaptation and quality of life of people with ID and epilepsy, we believe that further studies on biological, psychological and environmental aspects are needed in order to identify any potential factors that might explain the persistence of SIBs and to find effective interventions to reduce them.