Medication in people with learning disability and mental illness

Abstract

Psychiatric medications are often used in the treatment of mental disorders as well as for problem behaviours in people with learning disabilities. However, there is little evidence directly relating to people with learning disability, and most treatment decisions and experience of medication are based on research in the general population. Good practice demands that clinicians make every effort to ascertain whether the presenting complaints are those of a diagnosable mental disorder and that there is multidisciplinary support to ameliorate problem behaviours.