Premium
The use of psychotropic medication with adults with learning disabilities: survey findings and implications for services
Author(s) -
Chapman Melanie,
Gledhill Paul,
Jones Phillip,
Burton Mark,
Soni Saroj
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
british journal of learning disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 1354-4187
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3156.2005.00334.x
Subject(s) - psychotropic medication , psychiatry , learning disability , antipsychotic , medicine , challenging behaviour , family medicine , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , mental health
Summary This paper describes the findings of a survey into prescribing of psychotropic medication with adults with learning disabilities in a British city. A self‐completion questionnaire was sent to staff in dispersed housing and community learning disability teams to gather information about the number of people prescribed psychoactive medication, the type of medication prescribed, General Practitioner and Consultant Psychiatrist visits. The survey identified 55 people who were prescribed psychotropic medication. Of these, 89% were prescribed antipsychotic medication, whilst 47% were prescribed antidepressants. Forty‐four per cent were prescribed more than one category of psychotropic medication, whilst 22% were prescribed more than one antipsychotic medication. Worryingly, a clear diagnosis was not provided in a large proportion of cases. The survey has informed a number of service developments, which are briefly described.