Psychopathology and Mental Status Examination

The term “psychopathology” is employed in a number of different ways. In the present chapter, it is used with specific reference to defining, understanding, and categorizing symptoms of mental suffering, as reported by people with intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and observed through their behavior. After a description of the three parts into which the human psyche is traditionally divided (cognition, affection, and conation), specific aspects and symptoms are treated within the various stages of the present state examination. Descriptive evaluation of psychopathology and the present state examination represent fundamental phases of the psychiatric assessment of the person with ID and/or ASD, although scarce attention received to date in clinical practice and research.