What is the Difference Between Mental Illness and Mental Retardation?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between mental illness and mental retardation lies in their definitions, causes, and effects on an individual's life.
Mental Illness:
- Mental illness is a condition characterized by inappropriate, irrational, or unrealistic behavior.
- It is not related to intelligence and can be caused by genetic issues, chemical imbalances, or difficulties with coping.
- Mental illness can be temporary and may occur periodically, with interventions such as medication, psychotherapy, or other supports.
- Examples of mental illnesses include psychotic and bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder.
Mental Retardation:
- Mental retardation, also known as intellectual disability, is defined as significantly sub-average general intellectual functioning associated with significant deficit or impairment in adaptive behavior.
- It is a condition where a person's intellectual development is arrested before birth, during the birth process, or in the early years of development.
- Mental retardation is a permanent condition with no cure, and individuals with intellectual disabilities need long-term developmental therapies, educational/vocational supports, and life-skills training and reinforcements.
- Intellectual disabilities can be caused by genetic factors, environmental factors, or problems affecting development before, during, or the early years after birth.
While mental illness and mental retardation are distinct conditions, it is possible for a person to be both mentally ill and retarded.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Mental Illness and Mental Retardation? Comparative Table: Mental Illness vs Mental Retardation
Comparative Table: Mental Illness vs Mental Retardation
Here is a table illustrating the differences between mental illness and mental retardation:
| Feature | Mental Illness | Mental Retardation (Intellectual Disability) |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A mental disorder that affects mood, emotions, and daily activities | Significantly sub-average general intellectual functioning associated with significant deficits or impairments in adaptive behavior |
| Intelligence | Unrelated to intelligence | Associated with low IQ |
| Effects | Affects behavior, thoughts, perception, and emotions | Affects cognitive ability and intellectual thinking |
| Learning | Learning difficulties are not usually present | Learning difficulties are often present |
| Treatment | Can be treated with medication, psychotherapy, or other supports | Requires long-term developmental therapies, educational/vocational supports, and life-skills training and reinforcements |
| Causes | Can be caused by physical, psychological, or environmental factors, or a combination of all three | Can be caused by genetic factors, environmental factors, or problems affecting development before, during, or early years after birth |
| Prognosis | Mental illness may occur periodically and can be temporary | Intellectual disability is permanent and there is no cure |
It is important to note that a person can have both mental illness and mental retardation, and they require different approaches in terms of treatment, care, and support.
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