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Emergency Psychiatric Services for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities: Caregivers’ Perspectives
Author(s) -
Weiss Jonathan A.,
Lunsky Yona,
Gracey Carolyn,
Canrinus Maaike,
Morris Susan
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3148.2008.00468.x
Subject(s) - mental health , intellectual disability , psychiatry , group home , focus group , psychology , challenging behaviour , family caregivers , medicine , nursing , marketing , business
Background Strains on the mental health system and inaccessible services for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) often force caregivers to bring individuals with ID to the emergency department (ED) when in psychiatric crisis. The purpose of this study was to understand the experience of caregivers and adults with ID and mental health issues, according to caregivers’ perspectives. Method Focus groups were conducted with one group of unpaid caregivers (i.e. family members) and two groups of paid caregivers (i.e. staff from community agencies) from Ontario, Canada. Results Caregivers identified a number of issues centering on a lack of services, on respect, on knowledge and on expertise. Diagnostic overshadowing and overmedication were also prevalent concerns. Conclusions Input from caregivers points to deficiencies in the system that lead them to use the ED when other options have been exhausted. A number of recommendations can be implemented to improve the emergency psychiatric care of adults with ID in the ED.