This article reflects on the protection of those deemed vulnerable reporting a research study in which the views of staff relating to vulnerability and abuse of adults with learning disabilities were explored. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore perspectives of staff in order to construct a detailed analysis of interpretations of the terms ‘vulnerability’ and [read the full story…]
This article reports the findings of an audit carried out in Surrey to look at pain recognition and management with people with learning disabilities. The authors looked at what people with learning disabilities understood and experienced when they had pain, compared to what was reported as good practice in the literature. The authors found that [read the full story…]
People with learning disabilities, like others in society, will come into contact with the criminal justice system, potentially as victims, witnesses or suspects. This study set out to focus on police interviews and the capacity of adults with learning disabilities to give evidence in Court. Research into the types of vulnerability seen by people interviewed [read the full story…]
This study looked at the use of contraception by a study population of 234 women aged 15-59 who lived in services provided by a Dutch service provider. The authors gathered data from the pharmacy database, attending physicians and medical files. The study found that 48%, of the 234 women used some method of contraception, 78% [read the full story…]
This paper describes the need for transparent and honest relationships with stakeholders in the process of reproviding a service. It highlights the role of audit and monitoring quality to determine the ‘health’ and effectiveness of services. Having a collaborative approach to addressing problems means that involvement is impolitic so stakeholders can offer feedback based on [read the full story…]
This study explored which client characteristics might be related to outcome during inpatient treatment. The study looked at 87 people with mild learning disabilities who were receiving inpatient treatment for severe behavioural problems and found a decrease in emotional and behavioural problems within a 1-year period of inpatient treatment. The authors found that gender and [read the full story…]
This meta analysis collated data from published literature between 1980 and 2009 to estimate the prevalence of intellectual disability across all such studies. The authors state the prevalence of intellectual disability across all 52 studies included was 10.37/1000 population. Estimates varied according to income group of country of origin, age-group of study population and study design. [read the full story…]
This long-term follow-up study set out to better characterise the features and correlates of epilepsy in individuals with autism. The authors point out that few long term follow up studies have been reported. 151 individuals with a diagnosis of autism in childhood were followed up at 21+ years of age. They were screened for history [read the full story…]
Recognising that self injurious behaviour in people with profound and multiple disabilities usually has important negative consequences for people concerned, this meta-analysis set out to examine the effectiveness of the treatments currently being offered. The authors looked at single-case studies which investigated non-aversive, non-intrusive forms of reinforcement, combining these using hierarchical linear models. They discovered [read the full story…]
The effects of deinstitutionalisation on adaptive behaviour outcomes in people with learning disabilities were examined in this meta analysis of 23 studies. The authors compared the studies using standardised mean effect sizes across 5 demographic, 4 methodological, and 1 outcome variable. The analysis found moderate habilitative gains in 75% of adaptive behaviour domains. Larger effect [read the full story…]
