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Antipsychotic medication for challenging behaviour in people with learning disabilityBrylewski J, Duggan L
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SummaryAntipsychotic medication for challenging behaviour in people with learning disabilityThe term 'challenging behaviour', in the absence of psychiatric disorder, encompasses a wide range of behaviours that may be harmful to people or property, may be difficult to manage and may limit access to community facilities. Antipsychotic medications have been used to modify such behaviours in people with learning disability, but there is no randomised controlled trial-based information that suggests antipsychotic medication is either helpful or harmful for adults with learning disability and challenging behaviour.
This is a Cochrane review abstract and plain language summary, prepared and maintained by The Cochrane Collaboration, currently published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009 Issue 4, Copyright © 2009 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.. The full text of the review is available in The Cochrane Library (ISSN 1464-780X).
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April 27. 1998 AbstractBackgroundThe term 'challenging behaviour', in the absence of psychiatric disorder, encompasses a wide range of behaviours that may be harmful to people or property, may be difficult to manage and may limit access to community facilities. Antipsychotic medications have been used to modify such behaviours in people with learning disability, but there is little evidence to suggest that the benefits outweigh the risks. ObjectivesTo determine the effectiveness of antipsychotic medication for people with learning disability and challenging behaviour without additional mental illness. Search strategyBiological Abstracts, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and BIOSIS were searched. Further references were sought from published trials and pharmaceutical companies. Trials were reliably identified and data extracted. Selection criteriaAll randomised controlled trials of antipsychotic medication versus placebo. Data collection and analysisReviewers independently evaluated and analysed data on an intention to treat basis. Data were evaluated at 4, 8 and 12 weeks as longer follow-up data were not available. Reviewers assumed that those subjects lost to follow-up had a bad outcome. Main resultsOnly nine randomised controlled trials could be included in the analyses. These provided no evidence of whether antipsychotic medication helps or harms adults with learning disability and challenging behaviour. Authors' conclusionsThere are limited data on this important issue and more research is urgently needed. |