A study on the administrative management for mentally retarded persons in the social welfare center for disability of Yokohama City

Akiko YOSHIDA, Tomoko SUGANO, Takeshi MATSUISHI, Keiko ENDO, Tetsuaki YAMAGUCHI, Yoshiteru YAMADA

Abstract
A survey was carried out to assess the administrative management of people with mental retardation, the results of medical diagnosis, psychological testing and testing of working capacity from October, 1987 to March, 1989 in the social welfare center for disabilities of Yokohama city. The total number of cases with mental retardation in this survey was 377. Male : female ratio of mental retardation was 1.73 : 1, The average IQ was 39.0. The percentage of mildly mentally retarded was 20.8, 30,0% for moderate, 25.1% for severe and 20.2% for profound. These result shows that the rate for severely retarded is more than that previously presented.
The most prevalent complication was epilepsy with 28% of cases being affected. Using antiepleptics their condition was generally controlled. The prevalence rate of epilepsy was proportional to the degree of mental retardation.
Male : female ratio of mentally retarded with autistic disorder was 7.7 : 1. The percentage of autistic disorder in the total group was 16%. The average IQ of this group was 42.4. Generally speaking, the more severe the degree of mental retardation, the higher the prevalence of autistic disorder.
Those with mild mental retardation showed maladjustment at a higher rate.
As for the administrative management on the basis of these result, the group of profound and severe mentally retarded tended to be institutionalized and the group of moderate and mild mentally retarded attended a vocational aid center.
The shortage of facilities is a serious problem in Yokohama city. Considering of higher rate of severely mentally retarded, construction of institutions is urgent. In addition to that, we emphasize the need for special consideration for those with autistic disorder.
(Kanagawa Seishinigaku kaishi, Journal of Kanagawa Psychiatric Association, 47: 59-66,1997)