NICE guidelines on supporting people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour have now been published. Here we look at the main recommendations and reflect on how likely they are to improve practice.
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Psychotropic medications are prescribed widely to many people with learning disabilities, but there remain many concerns about over, or improper use of such medications.
Here, Kate van Dooren looks at a study which collected data from 100 participants over a period of time to look at psychotropic medication and the relationship between dose, demographic factors and aggression scores.
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Trans-diagnostic treatment refers to an approach whereby the same underlying treatment principles are applied across diagnoses.
Here, Michelle Gregory looks at a pilot trial of trans-diagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy for a small group of people with mild learning disabilities who were in-patients in receipt of treatment for emotional difficulties.
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Tom Crossland looks at the findings of a review of the literature regarding women with learning disabilities and forensic needs
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Hannah Morgan assesses a study on parents’ experience of support for transition to adulthood for children with Autistic Spectrum Conditions and finds that although they want to support their children, they themselves are not always supported by services.
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Emma Langley looks at a systematic review of the effectiveness of the use of opioid antagonist medication in attenuating core symptoms of autism spectrum conditions in children
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Whilst there is a good deal of research into the use of physical interventions in the management of challenging behaviour, there is less available on the way these are experienced by people receiving them, or the staff and family carers involved.
Here, Rose Tomlins looks at a review of the literature that focused on these experiences.
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Intensive interaction is an accepted approach to working with people with learning disabilities and/or autism, but how much do we know about its effectiveness?
Here, Katherine Runswick Cole looks at a review of literature that addresses this question.
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Children with learning disabilities are more likely to have challenging behaviours and as a result are more at risk of social exclusion, deprivation, physical harm and abuse.
In her debut blog, Alix Dixon considers the findings of a recent literature review of early interventions for children with challenging behaviours and their families.
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Mindfulness is increasingly recognised as an effective way to reduce stress and improve well-being
Here Kate van Dooren looks at a randomised controlled trial of a mindfulness based stress reduction programme with mothers of children with autism and other developmental delays to look at its impact on levels of distress over time.
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