Are mentally ill and mentally retarded the same thing?

Are mentally ill and mentally retarded the same thing?

• A. Yes
• B. No; they are different
• C. Both are genetic
• D. They always require hospitalization

Answer: (B)

Mental illness and intellectual disability are different kinds of conditions. Mental illness refers to disorders that affect mood, thoughts, and behavior—conditions like depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia—that can affect anyone, regardless of how smart they are. Intellectual disability, formerly called mental retardation, is a developmental condition characterized by below‑average intellectual functioning and diminished adaptive skills, with onset in childhood. They’re not the same thing, though they can occur together; one does not imply the other. The outdated term should be avoided in favor of “intellectual disability.” Also, neither condition inherently requires hospitalization, and having one does not automatically mean the other is present.

Mental illness and intellectual disability are different kinds of conditions. Mental illness refers to disorders that affect mood, thoughts, and behavior—conditions like depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia—that can affect anyone, regardless of how smart they are. Intellectual disability, formerly called mental retardation, is a developmental condition characterized by below‑average intellectual functioning and diminished adaptive skills, with onset in childhood. They’re not the same thing, though they can occur together; one does not imply the other. The outdated term should be avoided in favor of “intellectual disability.” Also, neither condition inherently requires hospitalization, and having one does not automatically mean the other is present.