Learning disability drug warning

[Guest guest]

Learning disability drug warning

About 200,000 people with learning disabilities are treated with the

drugs

Doctors are being warned not to routinely give people with learning

disabilities anti-psychotic drugs to curb aggressive behaviour.

An Imperial College London study of 86 patients found the drugs were

no more effective than being given none at all.

Researchers said it was more important to address the underlying

causes.

In the UK, 200,000 people with learning disabilities are given anti-

psychotic drugs - even though there is a risk of side-effects, the

Lancet reported.

These can include risk of weight gain, impotence and strain to the

cardiovascular system.

The problem with patients with learning disabilities is that we

haven't had the evidence on whether anti-psychotic drugs worked

Professor Tyrer, lead researcher

The team studied patients in 10 inpatient and community settings in

England, Wales and Australia.

One group was given haloperidol, a first-generation antipsychotic

drug, a second group got risperidone, a second-generation version,

while a third received a dummy pill.

Clinical assessments of aggression, aberrant behaviour, quality of

life, adverse drug effects and feelings towards their carer were

recorded at four, 12 and 26 weeks.

The researchers found that aggression had decreased substantially

with all three treatments by week four, but patients receiving the

dummy pill had the greatest change.

Improvements were seen with the other measures, but these were

similar for all three groups.

Evidence

Lead researcher Professor Tyrer said: " The problem with

patients with learning disabilities is that we haven't had the

evidence on whether anti-psychotic drugs work.

" Therefore, these patients were assumed to be the same as other

mental health patients.

" But what our research shows is that drugs are no better than not

giving any drugs. It seems what is important is the care a person

receives.

" When people with learning disabilities are aggressive it is

important they are given support and people communicate with them. "

But he added that there would still be exceptional circumstances

where such drugs were necessary.

Dr Jim Kennedy, prescribing spokesman at the Royal College of GPs,

agreed.

But he added: " All too often the drugs are used as a chemical

restraint. This can be poor practice. "

And Congdon, from the Mencap charity, said: " Anti-psychotic

drugs should be seen as a last resort.

" Challenging behaviour is caused by many different factors - an

undiagnosed health condition causing extreme pain, frustration at not

being able to communicate properly, or boredom due to a lack of

meaningful activity.

" All of this can be dealt with without the use of anti-psychotic

drugs. "

[Guest guest]

Learning disability drug warning

About 200,000 people with learning disabilities are treated with the

drugs

Doctors are being warned not to routinely give people with learning

disabilities anti-psychotic drugs to curb aggressive behaviour.

An Imperial College London study of 86 patients found the drugs were

no more effective than being given none at all.

Researchers said it was more important to address the underlying

causes.

In the UK, 200,000 people with learning disabilities are given anti-

psychotic drugs - even though there is a risk of side-effects, the

Lancet reported.

These can include risk of weight gain, impotence and strain to the

cardiovascular system.

The problem with patients with learning disabilities is that we

haven't had the evidence on whether anti-psychotic drugs worked

Professor Tyrer, lead researcher

The team studied patients in 10 inpatient and community settings in

England, Wales and Australia.

One group was given haloperidol, a first-generation antipsychotic

drug, a second group got risperidone, a second-generation version,

while a third received a dummy pill.

Clinical assessments of aggression, aberrant behaviour, quality of

life, adverse drug effects and feelings towards their carer were

recorded at four, 12 and 26 weeks.

The researchers found that aggression had decreased substantially

with all three treatments by week four, but patients receiving the

dummy pill had the greatest change.

Improvements were seen with the other measures, but these were

similar for all three groups.

Evidence

Lead researcher Professor Tyrer said: " The problem with

patients with learning disabilities is that we haven't had the

evidence on whether anti-psychotic drugs work.

" Therefore, these patients were assumed to be the same as other

mental health patients.

" But what our research shows is that drugs are no better than not

giving any drugs. It seems what is important is the care a person

receives.

" When people with learning disabilities are aggressive it is

important they are given support and people communicate with them. "

But he added that there would still be exceptional circumstances

where such drugs were necessary.

Dr Jim Kennedy, prescribing spokesman at the Royal College of GPs,

agreed.

But he added: " All too often the drugs are used as a chemical

restraint. This can be poor practice. "

And Congdon, from the Mencap charity, said: " Anti-psychotic

drugs should be seen as a last resort.

" Challenging behaviour is caused by many different factors - an

undiagnosed health condition causing extreme pain, frustration at not

being able to communicate properly, or boredom due to a lack of

meaningful activity.

" All of this can be dealt with without the use of anti-psychotic

drugs. "

[Guest guest]

Learning disability drug warning

About 200,000 people with learning disabilities are treated with the

drugs

Doctors are being warned not to routinely give people with learning

disabilities anti-psychotic drugs to curb aggressive behaviour.

An Imperial College London study of 86 patients found the drugs were

no more effective than being given none at all.

Researchers said it was more important to address the underlying

causes.

In the UK, 200,000 people with learning disabilities are given anti-

psychotic drugs - even though there is a risk of side-effects, the

Lancet reported.

These can include risk of weight gain, impotence and strain to the

cardiovascular system.

The problem with patients with learning disabilities is that we

haven't had the evidence on whether anti-psychotic drugs worked

Professor Tyrer, lead researcher

The team studied patients in 10 inpatient and community settings in

England, Wales and Australia.

One group was given haloperidol, a first-generation antipsychotic

drug, a second group got risperidone, a second-generation version,

while a third received a dummy pill.

Clinical assessments of aggression, aberrant behaviour, quality of

life, adverse drug effects and feelings towards their carer were

recorded at four, 12 and 26 weeks.

The researchers found that aggression had decreased substantially

with all three treatments by week four, but patients receiving the

dummy pill had the greatest change.

Improvements were seen with the other measures, but these were

similar for all three groups.

Evidence

Lead researcher Professor Tyrer said: " The problem with

patients with learning disabilities is that we haven't had the

evidence on whether anti-psychotic drugs work.

" Therefore, these patients were assumed to be the same as other

mental health patients.

" But what our research shows is that drugs are no better than not

giving any drugs. It seems what is important is the care a person

receives.

" When people with learning disabilities are aggressive it is

important they are given support and people communicate with them. "

But he added that there would still be exceptional circumstances

where such drugs were necessary.

Dr Jim Kennedy, prescribing spokesman at the Royal College of GPs,

agreed.

But he added: " All too often the drugs are used as a chemical

restraint. This can be poor practice. "

And Congdon, from the Mencap charity, said: " Anti-psychotic

drugs should be seen as a last resort.

" Challenging behaviour is caused by many different factors - an

undiagnosed health condition causing extreme pain, frustration at not

being able to communicate properly, or boredom due to a lack of

meaningful activity.

" All of this can be dealt with without the use of anti-psychotic

drugs. "

[Guest guest]

Learning disability drug warning

About 200,000 people with learning disabilities are treated with the

drugs

Doctors are being warned not to routinely give people with learning

disabilities anti-psychotic drugs to curb aggressive behaviour.

An Imperial College London study of 86 patients found the drugs were

no more effective than being given none at all.

Researchers said it was more important to address the underlying

causes.

In the UK, 200,000 people with learning disabilities are given anti-

psychotic drugs - even though there is a risk of side-effects, the

Lancet reported.

These can include risk of weight gain, impotence and strain to the

cardiovascular system.

The problem with patients with learning disabilities is that we

haven't had the evidence on whether anti-psychotic drugs worked

Professor Tyrer, lead researcher

The team studied patients in 10 inpatient and community settings in

England, Wales and Australia.

One group was given haloperidol, a first-generation antipsychotic

drug, a second group got risperidone, a second-generation version,

while a third received a dummy pill.

Clinical assessments of aggression, aberrant behaviour, quality of

life, adverse drug effects and feelings towards their carer were

recorded at four, 12 and 26 weeks.

The researchers found that aggression had decreased substantially

with all three treatments by week four, but patients receiving the

dummy pill had the greatest change.

Improvements were seen with the other measures, but these were

similar for all three groups.

Evidence

Lead researcher Professor Tyrer said: " The problem with

patients with learning disabilities is that we haven't had the

evidence on whether anti-psychotic drugs work.

" Therefore, these patients were assumed to be the same as other

mental health patients.

" But what our research shows is that drugs are no better than not

giving any drugs. It seems what is important is the care a person

receives.

" When people with learning disabilities are aggressive it is

important they are given support and people communicate with them. "

But he added that there would still be exceptional circumstances

where such drugs were necessary.

Dr Jim Kennedy, prescribing spokesman at the Royal College of GPs,

agreed.

But he added: " All too often the drugs are used as a chemical

restraint. This can be poor practice. "

And Congdon, from the Mencap charity, said: " Anti-psychotic

drugs should be seen as a last resort.

" Challenging behaviour is caused by many different factors - an

undiagnosed health condition causing extreme pain, frustration at not

being able to communicate properly, or boredom due to a lack of

meaningful activity.

" All of this can be dealt with without the use of anti-psychotic

drugs. "