![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
This paper reviews research pertaining to the phobic disorders of mentally retarded and autistic persons. The definition, diagnosis, phenomenology and assessment of phobic disorders are briefly covered. The various aetiologies and possible treatments are then adumbrated, and following this, treatments used to date in the alleviation of phobic disorders in the target populations are described. Particular attention is paid to the various methodological weaknesses of the reviewed studies. Finally, current trends are discussed and future directions for research are suggested. It is concluded that at the present time, behavioural interventions must be regarded as the treatments of choice for the phobic disorders of mentally retarded (and autistic) persons.
