Borderline intellectual functioning explained

Borderline intellectual functioning
Synonyms:Borderline mental retardation, borderline mental subnormality, borderline mental deficiency, borderline mental disability, borderline intelligence, deficientia intelligentiæ, backwardness
Specialty:Psychiatry

Borderline intellectual functioning, previously called borderline mental retardation (in the ICD-8),[1] is a categorization of intelligence wherein a person has below average cognitive ability (generally an IQ of 70–85),[2] but the deficit is not as severe as intellectual disability (below 70). It is sometimes called below average IQ (BAIQ). This is technically a cognitive impairment; however, this group may not be sufficiently mentally disabled to be eligible for specialized services.

Codes

The DSM-IV-TR code of borderline intellectual functioning is V62.89.[3] DSM-5 diagnosis codes are V62.89 and R41.83.[4]

Learning skills

During school years, individuals with borderline intellectual functioning are often "slow learners".[5] Although a large percentage of this group fails to complete high school and can often achieve only a low socioeconomic status, most adults in this group blend in with the rest of the population.[5]

Differential diagnosis

According to the DSM-5, differentiating borderline intellectual functioning and mild intellectual disability requires careful assessment of adaptive and intellectual functions and their variations, especially in the presence of co-morbid psychiatric disorders that may affect patient compliance with standardized test (for example, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with severe impulsivity or schizophrenia).[4]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Book: 1967 . Manual of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injures, and Causes of Death . 1 . en . . . 154.
  2. 20537050. Working memory and executive function profiles of individuals with borderline intellectual functioning. TP Alloway. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research . May 2010. 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2010.01281.x. 54. 5. 448–56.
  3. Book: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV . American Psychiatric Association . Washington, DC . 2000 . 0-89042-025-4 .
  4. Book: American Psychiatric Association . Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) . Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention . 2013 . 727 . Arlington, VA . American Psychiatric Publishing . 978-0-89042-559-6 . 10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.
  5. The Best Test Preparation for the Advanced Placement Examination in Psychology, Research & Education Association. (2003), p. 99