The mental health needs of people with learning disabilities may be overlooked.
In this blog, Paula Hopes looks at review of literature, which sets out to discover how prepared mental health nurses are to respond to these needs.
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As more people are using social media sites, it is important that people with learning disabilities are not excluded.
Here, Michelle Gregory looks at a pilot study evaluating the use of an interface to help people with learning disabilities use Facebook.
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For some people with learning disabilities, difficulties in eating and swallowing mean that enteral tubes are used to consume food and sometimes to take medication.
Here, Fawn Harrad looks at a Belgian study in which researchers observed whether staff in residential settings were following guidelines in the use of enteral feeding tubes to administer medications.
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There is a growing evidence base that with the right modifications, people with learning disabilities can benefit from cognitive behavioural approaches to treating depression.
Here, Rose Tomlins looks at a study which looked at the impact of cognitive, behavioural or joint strategies.
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Previous studies have suggested that women with learning disabities can feel frustrated at their lack of preparation for attendance for a mammogram.
Here Rosalyn Hithersay looks at a study, which sets out to develop a measure of preparedness for the procedure.
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People with learning disabilities are living longer and, as a result, are experiencing chronic illness. Here, Katherine Runswick Cole reflects on a review of the literature looking at the psychosocial impacts of living with chronic illness.
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In this blog, John Northfield considers a study of rates and patterns of prescribing psychotropic medications by GPs to people with learning disabilities and/or autism.
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Lack of sleep for parents has been associated with depression, stress and anxiety and sleep problems for parents of children with learning disabilities are common.
Here, Rachel Allen looks at an evaluation of the effectiveness of a sleep management intervention that was delivered through support to groups of parents.
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Transforming Care, the government’s response to WInterbourne view, set some clear targets for the development of community services and the reduction on specialist inpatient bed numbers.
Here Alix Dixon looks at a paper, which used some illustrative case examples to explore some of the policy and practice issues around these targets.
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There continues to be debate about the appropriate use of in-patient services for people with learning disabilities and we need to learn as much as possible about routes in, treatment options within and pathways out.
In her debut blog, Anne Marie Scott looks at a paper, which reports on outcomes in relation to people who were inpatients in a forensic unit, In particular the researchers asked if being on the autism spectrum impacted on these outcomes.
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