People with learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders may also have mental health problems. There is little in the literature on the mental health needs of such adults. The researchers in this study were interested in developing the evidence base to enable a clearer understanding of the kinds of service responses that might be needed. [read the full story…]
Most local authorities are attempting to offer a range of services in response to the need for respite or a short break. Authorities have recognised the need to offer services therefore that attempt to meet the needs of carers and the people with disabilities, by ensuring that short breaks are responsive to people using services, [read the full story…]
The notion of the therapeutic community emerged in the 1940s and was developed in the UK throughout the subsequent decades. Therapeutic communities developed participative approaches to working with people with long term mental illness. Usually residential, they offered a complete therapeutic milieu with therapists and patients living in the same environment and within the same [read the full story…]
Self injurious behaviour directly results in some physical harm to an individual, or is where people display repetitive movements even though these may not immediately produce tissue damage. There is a hypothesis that in some cases of chronic self-injurious behaviour, the individuals involved may have altered or diminished pain perception. The researchers in this study [read the full story…]
Recently in the Netherlands, Dutch TV showed footage of a teenager known as ‘Brandon’ who was resident in a long stay institution. Because of his challenging behaviour, he was managed in this institution by the use of a harness, which was attached via a leather strap to a metal bracket on the wall. Dutch psychiatrists have [read the full story…]
Earlier this week we have looked at the reports into the Winterbourne View scandal, which identified some appalling practice by staff at the home. Today, we are looking at some research that focuses on the potential for injury of staff who are involved in physical interventions. Physical interventions are defined as responses to challenging behaviour [read the full story…]
Yesterday, we posted about the serious case review following the Winterbourne View scandal, which called for Government action to focus on the closure of large specialist assessment and treatment units and the development of local community based alternatives. Today, we look at an Irish study which looked at changes in residential provision over a ten [read the full story…]
Yesterday saw the release of the serious case review relating to the appalling treatment of people at the Winterbourne View care home, as exposed in the BBC Panorama programme last year. The review, chaired by Margaret Flynn, points to a lack of leadership amongst commissioners, as well as criticising the role of the Care Quality [read the full story…]
The possible link between the MMR vaccine and autism has been shown to have no basis in evidence, despite such a link being posited in a 1998 paper in the Lancet. The paper was subsequently retracted following a GMC investigation of its author. The researchers in this US study point out that although the link [read the full story…]
Well, it’s good to be prepared and earlier this year the Department of Health produced its annual heatwave plan, which aims to raise public and professional awareness on how to prepare in case of severe hot weather and potential heatwaves. The Plan is written in partnership with the Health Protection Agency and supported by the [read the full story…]
