Author(s): Dr Chimdi Uhoegbu, Brendan McCormack

Department: Psychiatry Department, Cheeverstown House Dublin 6W

Keywords: Intellectual Disability, Medication, Behaviour Disorder

Reported: Presented as Poster at AMNCH Department Psychiatry June 2007

A study of the use of medication in management of behaviour disorder was carried out. Questionnaires were used to assess the types of behaviour disorders exhibited by service users. This was compared with the pattern in a study in 2005. Interventions employed to manage these behaviour disorders were also examined. The results from seventy four service users are analysed. High usage of psychotropic medication was found to be used for behaviour disorders in the absence of a psychiatric diagnosis. High level of usage of benzodiazepines was also found. The results were compared with an earlier study of service users with a diagnosis of autism. Recommendations for improving practice and for further studies are made.