Difference Between Mental Illness and Mental Retardation

Mental Illness vs Mental Retardation: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Mental Illness and Mental Retardation (commonly referred to as Intellectual Disability) are terms that are misunderstood and used interchangeably. However, they are distinct conditions with different causes, characteristics, and treatments. Understanding these differences is necessary to provide proper care and support. Read on to learn more about them.

What is Mental Illness?

Mental illness refers to a broad range of conditions that affect a person’s thoughts, behaviours, and emotions. These conditions can cause significant distress and affect a person’s ability to function properly in their daily lives. Here are a few distinct characteristics of mental illness:

Can develop at any age
May be temporary or chronic
Actively affects thinking, behaviour, and emotions

What is Intellectual Disability?

Intellectual disability involves limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour. It is a type of developmental condition that affects the cognitive capacity of a person to perform daily tasks. Here is an overview of a few characteristics of intellectual disability:

Difficulty in learning, reasoning, and problem-solving
Intellectual functioning is below average
A limited ability to perform daily activities

Key Differences Between Mental Illness and Mental Retardation

Here is a list of some of the key differences between Mental Illness and Intellectual Disability:

Aspect	Mental Illness	Intellectual Disability
Onset	It can occur at any age	Generally diagnosed in childhood
Causes	Biological, environmental and genetic factors	Prenatal factors, genetic disorders and birth complications
Impact on Intelligence	Most mental illnesses do not lower IQ (e.g., anxiety, PTSD). Some (e.g., untreated schizophrenia) may cause cognitive decline over time.	Below-average functioning of intelligence
Duration	Can be episodic or chronic	Lifelong condition
Treatment	Medication, therapy and support	Training, education and support with daily tasks
Fluctuations	Symptoms can fluctuate or improve over time	Condition remains stable throughout life

Causes of Mental Illness

Mental illness can result from a vast range of biological, psychological, and social factors. It develops due to a combination of these causes:

Genetic Factors : Genetic factors play a major role in developing mental illnesses. If a close family member has a mental health disorder, like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, the risk of developing the same condition increases considerably.
Trauma and Stress : Experiencing traumatic events during childhood can also lead to long-term mental health issues. These events may include abuse, neglect, exposure to violence, loss of a parent or caregiver, etc.
Substance Abuse : Drug and Alcohol misuse can alter brain chemistry. It increases the risk of developing mental health problems. In some cases, substance abuse worsens existing conditions or even triggers psychosis.

Causes of Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disability is generally caused by factors that interfere with the development of the brain. These causes can occur before birth, during birth, or even after birth. Here are a few causes of it:

Genetic Disorders : Genetic abnormalities can lead to Intellectual Disability, such as Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, and Phenylketonuria (PKU).
Problems During Pregnancy : Many issues can affect brain development during pregnancy, such as infections such as rubella, syphilis or toxoplasmosis. Exposure to alcohol, drugs and toxic substances while pregnant also negatively affects the child in the womb.
Birth Complications : Complications can happen during delivery and can lead to a lack of oxygen in the baby’s brain. This increases the risk of an Intellectual Disability. Some of the more common problems are birth injuries and low birth weight, premature birth, and prolonged or difficult labour.

Having a clear understanding of all these differences between Mental Illness and Intellectual Disability is the key to providing the necessary care and services for people who are affected by either condition. It can help them lead healthier lives.