Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Intellectual Disability and Substance Use Disorder: A Quantitative Study Among Health Professionals

BACKGROUND: Perceptions and attitudes related to co-occurring intellectual disability and substance use disorder (SUD) may differ among professionals across different care settings. This study explores these potential differences between intellectual disability care and addiction care. METHOD: In a cross-sectional comparative study, perceptions and attitudes among health care professionals working in both systems were collected through the Illness Perception Questionnaire and Medical Condition Regards Scale. RESULTS: Addiction care professionals showed greater understanding of SUD and more positive attitudes towards patients with co-occurring conditions. In contrast, intellectual disability care professionals scored higher in emotional response. Demoralisation correlated negatively, and illness coherence and personal control positively with attitudes towards these patients. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest more negative attitudes towards patients with an intellectual disability and co-occurring SUD among professionals in intellectual disability care compared to addiction care, and argue for efforts to further improve attitudes in order to enhance care for these patients.