This systematic review looks at the literature on the effects of adverse life events or trauma on people with intellectual disabilities. The authors point out that there is a limited number of studies in this area and that effects of trauma seen in the general population literature are not necessarily transferable to the intellectual disability population.
Fifteen articles were selected. The authors state that studies lack a consistent definition of trauma and a reliable and valid means of measuring effects of trauma in people with intellectual disabilities. They also point to a lack of studies establishing causal links between life events and trauma.
