Mental Wellness in Adults With Down Syndrome: A Guide to Emotional And Behavioral Strengths And Challenges

MENTAL WELLNESS IN ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME is an upbeat thoroughly readable guide providing parents mental health professionals teachers and caregivers the keys to understanding how to promote mental wellness and resolve psychosocial problems in people with Down syndrome. This groundbreaking book is written by the founding directors of the Adult Down Syndrome Center of Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge Illinois. The authors draw on nearly 30 years of combined experience treating more than 3 000 adolescents and adults with Down syndrome aged 12 to 83. The book clarifies what the common behavioral characteristics of Down syndrome are how some can be mistaken for mental illness and what bona fide mental health problems occur more commonly in people with Down syndrome. The first section offers a wealth of knowledge and insight about typical emotional and behavioral traits of teens and adults with Down syndrome. Topics include: ? Community & Family Support ? Self-Talk & Imaginary Friends ? Communication-Related Problems ? Memory Strengths & Deficits ? Emotional Development ? Tendencies Toward Sameness & Repetition ? Self-Esteem & Self-Image ? Lifespan Issues The second section on mental illness includes chapters on such conditions as ? Depression & Other Mood Disorders ? Anxiety ? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ? Tic Disorders & Repetitive Movements ? AD/HD and Other Impulse Control Issues ? Autism ? Alzheimer Disease For each condition the authors describe the problem signs the diagnostic process and a range of treatment options such as counseling behavioral therapy and medication. Now thanks to MENTAL WELLNESS readers all over the world can pay a virtual visit to the Adult Down Syndrome Center and benefit from the insight and expertise of Drs. McGuire and Chicoine.