Involuntary movements in adults with intellectual disability

Abstract

Involuntary movements in adults with intellectual disability are not sufficiently researched manifestation. There are numerous causes of the emergence of involuntary movement in this population. This paper deals with some of them, such as the life in an institution and the consumption of certain medications. Aim of the research is to determine percentile representation of involuntary movement manifestation by detecting body parts that are usually covered by these movements, as well the relation between consumption of neuroleptics and institutionalization with the expression of involuntary movements in persons with intellectual disability. Research sample consisted of 66 adults with intellectual disability of both genders, ages 21 to 55 years. For identifying and examining involuntary movements Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) is used (Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale; Guy, 1976). Research results have confirmed the existence of involuntary movements with 59,1% of respondents.This percentage of the involuntary movements is detected in the facial area. Χ² test shows that between the groups of patients in which involuntary movements were registered there were no statistically significant differences relating the circumstances of the institutionalized or home conditions. The connection between consumption of neuroleptics and the occurrence of involuntary movements in persons with intellectual disability in this research is confirmed.