Psychiatric services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: Medication management

2012

Andrew Russell
[email protected]
310-825-0389

The purpose of this study was to describe the medication management and treatment provided in a speciality outpatient psychiatry clinic for 198 community-residing children and adults with intellectual disability and other developmental disabilities (IDD) referred to the clinic and discharged between 1999 and 2009. Using a descriptive design, data from a retrospective chart audit were examined to explain medication management from referral to discharge. The audit tool collected data on demographic variables, reasons for referral, admission date, clinic appointments, discharge data, diagnoses, and medication. For individuals taking prescribed psychiatric medications at referral, psychiatric medication poly pharmacy and same-class psychiatric medication poly pharmacy were reduced by discharge. The overall findings suggest that this model of provision of specialized psychiatric outpatient services for individuals with IDD may be one approach to imporve the quality of mental health.

Developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, mental health, medication management, psychiatric diagnosis

Peer-reviewed publications in scholarly journals submitted

Professionals

N/A