Children and adolescents with intellectual developmental disorder (IDD) are significantly more likely to develop depression and anxiety than their peers, a large South Korean study finds. Over nearly a decade of follow-up, 1 in 5 kids with IDD were diagnosed with each condition. The findings call for earlier mental health screening and targeted support for this vulnerable group.
A large retrospective study out of South Korea has found that children and adolescents with intellectual developmental disorder (IDD) face substantially higher risks of developing depression and anxiety compared to peers without developmental disorders. Researchers tracked over 59,000 young people with IDD — matched against nearly 177,000 peers — for close to a decade, finding that roughly 1 in 5 with IDD were diagnosed with either condition during follow-up.
The risk was especially pronounced among males with IDD, younger children (ages 2–8), those living in urban areas, and those with a milder comorbidity burden. Notably, among those with IDD, females showed higher relative risks for both depression and anxiety than males within the same group.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: IDD affects millions of children globally, yet mental health comorbidities in this population are often underrecognized and undertreated. These findings underscore the urgent need for routine mental health screening and early, targeted interventions for children with IDD — particularly boys and younger children.
