Estimates of the numbers of people with learning disabilities who have co-morbid mental health problems vary considerably between studies, from 14 to 39%.

This review of literature focused on families of individuals diagnosed with both learning disability and co-morbid mental health problems. The author looked at the impact of caring such individuals on things like family well-being, the general impact on the family, and the nature of the interventions required from professionals and overall support needs of such families.

The author concludes that there remains a clear need for additional research in this area and for work to educate families of individuals with learning disabilities and co-morbid mental health problems and she makes a number of recommendations relating to directions fo future research.

Families of Individuals With Intellectual Disability and Comorbid Mental Health Problems, Esbensen A, in Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 4, 3, 140-157