Psychiatric Syndromes by Proxy in Persons With Developmental Disabilities
Samuel Fam, M.D.

Whether in institutional settings or in the community, reporting of symptoms experienced by persons with developmental disabilities is mostly done by caregivers. Diagnosis of mental illness is often given based on such observations and reports, and medication treatment is frequently prescribed. The recent trends requiring the reduction of psychotropic medications could create substantial anxiety among caregivers about the worsening of challenging behaviors, and potentially encourage the perception or embellishment of symptoms of mental illness. This problem is described, and some practical solutions are suggested in this article.