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Psychotropic medication for problem behaviours in intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder: the need for caution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2023

Marco O. Bertelli Open the ORCID record for Marco O. Bertelli [Opens in a new window]
Marco O. Bertelli*
Affiliation:
Scientific director of the Research and Clinical Centre (Centro Ricerca E Ambulatori, CREA) of the San Sebastiano Foundation, Misericordia di Firenze, Florence, Italy.
*
Correspondence Marco O. Bertelli. Email: mbertelli@crea-sansebastiano.org
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Summary

Many persons with intellectual developmental disorders and/or autism spectrum disorder presenting problem behaviours undergo pharmacotherapy without receiving an appropriate psychiatric assessment and diagnosis. Instead, prescription of psychotropic medication should have specific aims and involve interdisciplinary assessment, personalisation and patient and family participation. Current knowledge about pharmacological management of problem behaviours in this population is limited, necessitating extreme caution in clinical practice and more research into the complex interrelated factors that affect presentation, course and treatment response.

Keywords

Psychotropic medicationspsychopharmacologypsychopathologyintellectual disabilityautism spectrum disorder
Type
Commentary
Information
BJPsych Advances , Volume 29 , Special Issue 5: Neurodevelopmental disorders including intellectual disability: a Clinical Toolkit for Mental Health Professionals (Part 2) , September 2023 , pp. 334 - 336
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists

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Footnotes

Commentary on… Pharmacological management of psychopathology in people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder. See this issue.

References

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