FACTORS OF PERSONALITY NEUROTIZATION IN ADOLESCENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

Abstract

The article analyzes recent research on the factors of neuroticism in adolescents with intellectual disability. We treat neuroticism widely, as a psychological predisposition for mental disorders, which were formerly called “neuroses”. We call this special understanding of neuroticism ‘neurotization’ to separate it from the former term. We think using the neurosis-psychosis dichotomy as a framework is still theoretically relevant in the context of special psychology as it drives attention to the overall level of personality functioning in adolescents with intellectual disability, which is underresearched.
Attention is paid to biological, psychological and social factors of neurotization in the abovementioned category of adolescents.
Rare studies of biological predisposition to mental disorders in individuals with intellectual disability report that these individuals have a lower level of serotonin, GABA, taurine and dopamine; and a smaller number of neural connections between brain structures responsible for social skills, emotional regulation and assessment of danger (fusiform gyrus, superior temporal sulcus and amygdala). As a result, the corresponding functions are harder to execute for adolescents with intellectual disability.
Among psychological factors of neurotization in such adolescents there are lower level of social intelligence and communicative slills; alexithymia; difficulties in critical and predictive thinking.
Among social factors there are lack of social support; stigmatization and social isolation; hard living conditions.