Description of a clinical sample of patients with Borderline Intellectual Functioning at a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre: pilot test promoted by the Government of Catalonia
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Copyright (c) 2025 Revista de Psiquiatría Infanto-Juvenil
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https://doi.org/10.31766/revpsij.v42n3a2Keywords:
borderline intellectual functioning, BIF, intellectual disability, neurodevelopment, child and adolescent psychiatryAbstract
Introduction: Borderline Intellectual Functioning (BIF) refers to individuals with an IQ score ranging from 71 to 84 and difficulties associated with cognitive, social and functional development. Although it does not have clearly defined criteria and is not considered a diagnostic category (but rather a condition), it has been found to be an important risk factor for poorer overall adaptation and the onset of psychopathology. Objective: To descriptively evaluate two variables from a clinical sample of patients with BIF detected at the Gironès i Pla de l'Estany Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre (CSMIJ) during 2022: age of first visit at the centre and associated comorbidities. Materials and methods: As part of the multidisciplinary BIF pilot test approved by the Government of Catalonia in 2021, together with other mental health centres and services, 114 cases of patients with BIF (75% male) were evaluated according to the protocol in place. Results: Most patients visited the Mental Health Centre for the first time between the ages of 8 and 10. The most frequent comorbid diagnoses associated with BIF were general developmental disorders (29.16%), hyperkinetic disorders (27.5%) and conduct disorder (14.16%). Conclusions: The initial treatment plan at the Mental Health Centre includes addressing the patient and their families based on the difficulties assessed and the associated comorbidities, which are important characteristics in patients with BIF.
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