Learning disability: positive behaviour support offers an alternative to antipsychotics

Learning disability: positive behaviour support offers an alternative to antipsychotics Challenging behaviours can be traumatic, but sedation is not the answer. Positive behaviour support can help people express themselves in different ways

Last week, NHS England called for an end to over-medicating people with learning disabilities (pdf). This follows a report by Public Health England that estimates up to 35,000 people with learning disabilities are being prescribed strong antipsychotic medications, without clinical justification. This problem has been known about for some time, but the research highlights the scale of the issue.

There are no medications that “treat” challenging behaviour, learning disability or autism. Antipsychotic medications are largely used for their sedative side effects to chemically restrain people when their behaviours are described as challenging by others. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Over-medication of people with learning disabilities infringes human rights The Guardian
• Why might someone behave in a challenging way? The Guardian