David Steele summarises a review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which looks at the mediators and moderators of the placebo effect in psychiatry.
[read the full story...]Placebo effect in psychiatry: what do we really know?
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Can video-feedback improve outcomes for infants at risk of autism?
Christine O’Farrelly and Jane Iles post their debut blog about a cutting-edge RCT of video-feedback given to parents for infants at risk of autism. The study makes use of the ViPP technique (Video-feedback Intervention to Promote Positive Parenting) and concludes that this is a promising intervention.
[read the full story...]Easter/Spring special: can pets help with long term conditions?
For an Easter/Spring special, Sarah Carr looks at research into how pets can help people with long term conditions but how researchers may miss this in interviews.
[read the full story...]Learning Disabilities Elf review of 2014
As the year draws to a close and we elves gear up for some seasonal duties, we take a look at some of the blogs we have published throughout 2014 and welcome some of our new bloggers.
Also, we will be looking for new contributors in 2015, so look out for more news of that in the new year.
[read the full story...]Parenting skills support programme effective for some parents, but must be tailored to individual circumstances
Parents of children with learning disability and/or autism in seeking support with parenting skills, may have need of support with specific skills relevant to supporting their child with a disability.
Here, Kate van Dooren looks at a ‘pragmatic non-randomised’ study which evaluated a parent programme called ‘Riding the Rapids’ to see what happened to those parents who followed the programme.
[read the full story...]Lack of studies of pharmacological interventions among adults with autism and learning disability leave clinicians with little guidance
1 in 100 adults experience autism worldwide but little research exists on autism in adults. Adults with autism and learning disability may have distinct needs, and in particular challenging behaviour, which may increase their social isolation and reduce access to quality health care.
In her debut blog, Kate van Dooren looks at a systematic review from Canadian researchers who examined the evidence for the use of medications for challenging behaviours in adults with autism and learning disability.
[read the full story...]Are autism and ADHD associated with antidepressants or maternal depression? The debate continues…
Amy Green summarises a retrospective observational study that finds prenatal antidepressant exposure is associated with risk for ADHD, but not autistic spectrum disorders. She considers this complex topic and works out what it all means for pregnant women with depression.
[read the full story...]Prenatal SSRI exposure and autism risk: a dilemma for mums-to-be with depression
Amy Green summarises a population-based study of young children which looks at prenatal exposure to SSRI antidepressants and the social responsiveness symptoms of autism.
[read the full story...]Census analysis shows numbers of people with learning disabilities in in-patient beds falling from 2010-13
Following the uncovering of abuse at Winterbourne View by the BBC’s Panorama team, the Government committed to a programme of action to address what were recognised as system wide failures in the care and support of adults with learning disabilities described as having complex challenging behaviours. (Transforming Care) The Transforming Care document set out a [read the full story…]
Meta-review presents the risks of all-cause and suicide mortality in mental disorders
This recent and well-conducted meta-review concludes that the impact on mortality and suicide of mental disorders is substantial, and probably poorly appreciated as a public health problem. Raphael Underwood’s blog summarises the data for all-cause and suicide mortality in mental disorders.
[read the full story...]