Mental Retardation: Implications for Oman

The field of mental retardation represents a major problem in health, rehabilitation and social services. In this paper, the concept of mental retardation, the controversial findings of various epidemiological surveys and the etiology of mental retardation are reviewed. Finally, future prospects for the development of this field in the Sultanate of Oman in terms of implementation of proper epidemiological studies, the physicians consideration when confronted with incurable mentally retarded, prevention, allocation of funds, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the urgency of standardising psychometric scales to suit Omani conditions are examined.