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Mental Health Conditions

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  • Finding a Mental Health Professional

    Article with suggestions for finding therapists, psychiatrists, or other mental health professionals with experience working with individuals with Down syndrome.

  • Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling)

    Article that explains a mental health condition characterized by frequent and irresistible urges to pull out hair from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or body areas.

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors: Promoting Independence or Cause for Concern? Webinar Recording

    Recording of a webinar about repetitive behaviors in people with Down syndrome (such as the “groove”) and determining whether they are functional or problematic.

  • Practicing Inclusive Mental Healthcare of Individuals with Down Syndrome

    Guidebook with tools, resources, and strategies for mental health professionals of individuals with Down syndrome.

  • Psychotherapy for Individuals with Down Syndrome

    Article that discusses the benefits of psychotherapy or counseling and describes how therapy approaches can be adapted for people with Down syndrome.

  • Mental Health Therapy Toolkits and Guidelines

    A collection of tools and recommendations for mental health professionals to support them in meeting the mental health needs of people with Down syndrome.

  • Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures or Fake Seizures

    Article that describes nonepileptic events that resemble seizures but arise in response to stressors instead of abnormal brain electrical activity. Sometimes called “fake seizures.”

  • Opposite Actions

    Visual about a strategy for managing our reactions to strong emotions and feelings by doing the opposite of our initial behavioral urge.

  • Fear of Heights

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    Article about the potential impact that vision and depth perception differences may have on fear of heights in people with Down syndrome.

  • Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)

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    Article that provides an overview of attention-deficit disorders in people with Down syndrome, including the different ways they can present (e.g., with or without hyperactivity).

  • Obsessional Slowness

    Article about a conscious or unconscious tendency to complete tasks extremely slowly (e.g., taking hours to eat a meal or change clothing).

  • Electroconvulsive Therapy, Catatonia, and Regression in People with Down Syndrome

    Article that discusses use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to treat catatonia and regression in individuals with Down syndrome. Includes information on effectiveness and safety considerations.