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Audit of the use of psychotropic medication for challenging behaviour in a community learning disability service

Specialist Registrar in Learning Disabilities, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Byron House, Newark Hospital, Boundary Road, Newark NG24 4DE

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

The aims of the study were to identify patients in a community learning disability service receiving psychotropic medication for challenging behaviour, to examine prescribing practice and to compare this against local consensus standards. Local consensus standards were agreed by the consultants and the notes were reviewed by the author.

RESULTS

A total of 102 patients were identified as receiving psychotropic medication for challenging behaviour (26.7% of notes examined). The most common additional diagnoses were autism (29%) and epilepsy (28%). The average duration of treatment was 5.3 years, and multiple drugs were used in 34% of these patients. Antipsychotics were the most commonly used drugs (96% of patients). There was rarely a detailed description of the challenging behaviour. There was little regular monitoring of side-effects or warning about potential side-effects when the medication was started.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Challenging behaviour is a common cause of multiple prescribing in learning disability patients, and is often long-term in the absence of a strong evidence base. Other specialties use medication to control disturbed behaviour, particularly in people with dementia or personality disorder, so this audit may also be of interest to old age, adult and forensic psychiatrists.

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