Intellectual Disability (Learning Disability)

Author(s):  
Yetunde C. Adeniyi ◽  
Taiwo Adewumi
BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S103-S103
Author(s):  
Jalil-Ahmad Sharif

AimsThe audit aimed to assess if patients under the care of children's services in Wessex were transferred at the appropriate age and whether transition referrals to Community Learning Disability teams (CTLD) occurred timely. It also aimed to look at how many patients underwent transitions in a three month period, and if their transition support plan (TSP) was completed. A transition support plan should include chronological information on psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and social support measures. Patients should be referred between the ages of 17–19 but require a justification after 18 years of age.MethodThe BI team was contacted to provide all IDs for patients referred within a three month period between the ages of 17–19. The BI team provided 42 patients with their ID. Patients discharged from services within a short time span were excluded for the following reason: inappropriate referral (9pts), discharged after 1st assessment (6pts), internal discussion (6pts), only referred to Autism team (4pts), moved out of area (1pts). From the initial 42 patients, 16 patients were analysed using the collection tool.Result4/16 had a TSP, and only two had a complete TSP and transitioned in another trust and were inter-team referrals.CAMHS services referred 1/16 patients.Psychotropic medication was prescribed to 12/16 prior to or on time of referral, but only two patients had a complete psychotropic medication history.8/16 patients' referral was commenced prior to their 18th birthday, and no information was provided for delay in transfer.Health records did mention psychotherapy, but apart from 2/16 TSP records, no additional information was available on the modality.ConclusionPatients with Intellectual Disability face challenges when transferring from children to adult services. Insufficient referral information may have a detrimental impact on patients wellbeing and long-term care.Access to a patient's chronological journey through the different children's services allows Adult CTLD health professionals to provide effective care. Historical psycho-social and pharmacological interventions provide a reference point for future interventions.Concerns included: limited information on most TSP regarding psycho-social and psychotropic treatments, lack of access to CAMHS/CHYPS paperwork and ineffective inter-trust communication for transition patients.This project highlighted the average number of transition cases in 3 months. It led to changes to the transition pathway, as awareness was raised in trust and CCG meetings to improve patient outcome. CTLD created the new role of transition facilitators to support children's services. They sit in meetings before patients transition referrals.


Dementia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 736-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen McKenzie ◽  
Dale Metcalfe ◽  
Amanda Michie ◽  
George Murray

This research aimed to identify current national provision by health services in Scotland in relation to proactive screening and reactive assessment for people with an intellectual disability in Scotland who have, or are at risk of developing, dementia. Staff from 12 intellectual disability services, representing the 11 health board areas in Scotland, completed an online questionnaire which asked about proactive screening and reactive assessment for people with intellectual disability who had, or were at risk of developing, dementia as well as suggested areas for improvement. All of the areas provided services for people with intellectual disability who have, or are at risk of developing, dementia, but differed as to whether this was reactive, proactive or both. Nine services offered intervention following diagnosis. The most common elements used across both proactive screening and reactive assessment were conducting a health check, using a general dementia questionnaire designed for people with an intellectual disability and direct assessment with the person. Clinical psychology and community learning disability nurses were the professions most likely to be involved routinely in both proactive screening and reactive assessments. The psychometric properties of the most commonly used assessments of cognitive and behavioural functioning were mixed. The areas of improvement suggested by practitioners mainly related to ways of improving existing pathways. This research represents the first step in providing an overview of service provision in Scotland. There was some inconsistency in relation to the general and specific components which were involved in proactive screening and reactive assessment. Implications for service provision are discussed.


This chapter highlights some of the issues and challenges which exist in the provision of palliative and end-of-life care for people with learning disabilities and how some of these can be addressed. The challenges fall into four key areas: assessment, communication, consent, and bereavement. The reader is also signposted to websites and resources which are helpful in caring for people with learning disability at the end of their life. Concerns exist around choice and the quality of end-of-life care that people with learning disabilities may be offered. A number of different terms have evolved over the years for ‘learning disability’. Currently this term is used in the UK, but in Europe and in other parts of the world, the term ‘intellectual disability’ is used. Internationally there is a consensus that a learning disability can be identified when the following criteria are present: intellectual impairment (known as reduced IQ), social or adaptive dysfunction combined with reduced IQ, and early onset. It is thought that around 2.5% of the population in the UK has a learning disability, but it has also been predicted that this may increase by 1% per year over the next number of years.


2019 ◽  
Vol 215 (5) ◽  
pp. 633-635
Author(s):  
Sheila Hollins ◽  
Keri-Michèle Lodge ◽  
Paul Lomax

SummaryIntellectual disability (also known as learning disability in UK health services) and autism are distinct from the serious mental illnesses for which the Mental Health Act is designed to be used. Their inclusion in the definition of mental disorder is discriminatory, resulting in unjust deprivations of liberty. Intellectual disability and autism should be excluded from the Mental Health Act.Declaration of interestNone.


2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anupama Iyer

I explore some of the ways in which intellectual disability (learning disability) is depicted in fiction. My premise is that literature both reflects and shapes societal attitudes to people in this vulnerable minority group. People with intellectual disabilities are seldom able to determine, confirm or counter narratives about themselves. This situation, in which the subject is fundamentally unable to participate in their representation, raises unique ethical considerations. I use examples from various English-language novels to discuss how subjective accounts, observable behaviours and physical attributes are all employed to characterise people with intellectual disabilities.


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