This study from the Netherlands looked at whether it is possible to determine differences in personal characteristics and functioning between juvenile offenders under mandatory treatment orders who had a measured IQ of less than 70, between 70 and 85 and over 85. The authors were hoping to offer advice and guidance on ways to better [read the full story…]
Studies have suggested that anti-psychotic medications comprise between 30–50% of all psychotropics prescribed for people with learning disabilities, often prescribed for people with challenging behaviours with no diagnosis of mental illness. Reviews of their use have suggested however that there is no strong evidence supporting the anti-aggressive properties of anti-psychotics. This study in Australia was [read the full story…]
We have posted before about the factors which may impact on staff burnout in services supporting people with learning disabilities. Some of the studies we identified have suggested that personal and organisational supports increasing a sense of personal achievement for staff can provide a buffer against emotional exhaustion and that interventions related to improving mindfulness might [read the full story…]
The benefits of exercise for a healthy lifestyle are now well understood. However, there are issues relating to the physiology of people with Down syndrome which might suggest limitations to the extent to which they can engage in cardiovascular or resistance exercises. we also know that many people with Down syndrome are overweight or obese. [read the full story…]
The final report into the events at Winterbourne View Hospital was published on Monday (10.12.12) and sets out a programme of action which aims to ensure that people no longer have to live in hospitals, but receive support in line with best practice. Key outcomes in the Government’s programme include: Proposals to strengthen accountability [read the full story…]
There have been a number of studies testing attributions of support staff and their impact on helping behaviour when supporting people with learning disabilities anf challenging behaviour. We posted about one such study in January this year which looked at the impact of using vignettes to measure helping behaviour and used Weiner’s theory to explain [read the full story…]
Involving people with learning disabilities in research that affects them is part of the tradition of engaging with communities to ensure that there is ‘nothing about us without us’ – a key plank of the valuing people strategy in the UK. This U.S. study set out to consider how academics understand the best way to [read the full story…]
Sarcopenia is the degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass associated with ageing. It is also a component of frailty syndrome. The researchers in this Dutch study identified that this issue had been little studied in people with learning disabilities. They worked with 884 older people described as having borderline to profound learning disabilities, all aged [read the full story…]
Earlier this year, the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) carried out some research into ‘reasonable adjustments’ being made to mental health services to enable people with autism and people with learning disabilities to have equal access and effective treatment This NHS Confederation briefing sets out the key findings from this study and identifies what [read the full story…]
Describing pain is a difficult thing to do. Often we may feel our vocabulary is insufficient to capture what is happening in our bodies when we feel pain. A number of ways to help express pain have been explored, for example through the use of art. This was explored recently in a BBC radio programme [read the full story…]
