The relationship of social skills to psychopathology for individuals with severe or profound mental retardation

Abstract

The relationship between social skills and psychopathology in 846 individuals with severe or profound intellectual disability was examined. A linear regression analysis was performed and showed that increases in psychopathological symptoms were related to increases in negative behaviours. Results of six one-way ANOVAs comparing individuals with no diagnosis and those diagnosed with stereotypic movement disorder showed that these two groups differed in general positive and positive nonverbal skills. Implications of the findings are discussed.