ABSTRACT
Approximately two decades ago, Reiss et al.1 noted that “Mentally retarded people who are also emotionally disturbed may constitute one of the most underserved populations in the United States” (p. 361). This assertion was based on a growing recognition that individuals with mental retardation (MR) were vulnerable to a wide range of mental health problems, which often are not properly identifi ed or responded to with appropriate services.2 Reiss et al.1 delineated some of the potential mechanisms that may serve to increase risk for mental health problems in individuals with MR, as well as some conceptual, administrative, and attitudinal reasons that may limit mental health service utilization in this population. They concluded that individuals with MR potentially suffer from two related outcomes owing to low intelligence: (i) the increased risk for emotional disturbance, and (ii) the decreased opportunity for adequate treatment.1
