Prevalence of psychotropic medication use and association with challenging behaviour in adults with an intellectual disability : a total population study

Bowring, Darren and Totsika, Vasiliki and Hastings, Richard and Toogood, Sandy and McMahon, Martin (2017) Prevalence of psychotropic medication use and association with challenging behaviour in adults with an intellectual disability : a total population study. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 61 (6). pp. 604-617. ISSN 1365-2788

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Abstract

Background There is a high prevalence of psychotropic medication use in adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID), often in the absence of psychiatric disorder, also associated with challenging behaviour. Previous research has focused on specific sample frames or data from primary care providers. There is also a lack of consistency in the definition of challenging behaviour used. Methods We adopted a total population sampling method. Medication data on 265 adults with ID were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system. The Behaviour Problems Inventory – short form classified challenging behaviours. We examined the association between challenging behaviour and the use of psychotropic medication, and whether any association would still be present after accounting for socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Results 70.57% of adults with ID were prescribed at least one class of any medication (mean per person =2.62; range 0–14). Psychotropic medications were used by 37.73% of participants with antipsychotics the commonest type used by 21.89% of individuals. Polypharmacy and high dosages were common. Generalised Linear Models indicated significant associations between psychotropic medication and the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis, challenging behaviour, older age and type of residence. Male gender was additionally associated with antipsychotic medication. Conclusions The use of a total population sample identified via multiple routes is less likely to overestimate prevalence rates of medication use. Current challenging behaviour was a predictor of medication use after controlling for other variables. Data indicate that there may be differences in prescribing patterns associated with different topographies of challenging behaviours.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
Additional Information:
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Bowring, D. L., Totsika, V., Hastings, R. P., Toogood, S., and McMahon, M. (2017) Prevalence of psychotropic medication use and association with challenging behaviour in adults with an intellectual disability. A total population study. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 61: 604–617. doi: 10.1111/jir.12359 which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jir.12359/abstract This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2728
Subjects:
?? antipsychoticbehaviour problems inventorychallenging behaviourintellectual disabilitypsychotropic medicationclinical neurologyrehabilitationpsychiatry and mental healthneurology ??
ID Code:
84733
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
20 Feb 2017 15:20
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
28 Nov 2023 11:25