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Mental Retardation is Different From Mental Illness

Mental illness is a illness of the brain that frequently responds positively to treatment, so the individual may resume his/her activities. Mental retardation is not an illness, it is a condition, and as such, it cannot be cured. With proper training and education, the mentally retarded can learn to compensate through development of the individual's maximum potential. Listed are some differences between mental retardation and mental illness.

Mental Retardation

The term retardation refers to sub-average intellectual functioning. (Standard IQ less than 70)

Retardation refers to a degree of impairment in social adaptation.

Retardation may be present at birth or occurs during a period of development (by consensus, usually before age 18). A brain injury or illness (such as toxemia) at any age of a person's life may also cause retardation.

With mental retardation, the impairment is permanent (non-reversible). But frequently, with specialized training, the individual may learn to compensate through the development of his or her abilities.

A person with mental retardation can usually be expected to behave rationally at his or her operational level.

A person with mental retardation has a learning disability and will usually benefit from the services and skills of educators, psychologists, therapists and vocational rehabilitation trainers.

Mental Illness

Mental illness has nothing to do with I.Q. Mental illness may affect persons of any level of intelligence.

In many cases, a person with mental illness is socially competent, but may exhibit a character disorder or other aberration.

Mental illness may strike at any time in a person's life.

Most mental illnesses are treatable, and as such, may be considered temporary. Most mental illnesses can be improved or reversed with treatment. Mental illness is not a developmental disability.

A person with mental illness may vacillate between normal and irrational behavior.

A person with mental illness utilizes the services of physicians, psychiatrists and psychologists to help improve his or her condition.