Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Will new Mental Capacity Bill stop further breaches of human rights?
- Author:
- GILLEN Sally
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 14.10.04, 2004, pp.16-17.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Asks whether the new Mental Capacity Bill will do enough to protect the human rights of people with mental health problems. Looks at the recent ruling of the Bournewood Case where the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the detention of an autistic man in a psychiatric hospital had breached his human rights.
Psycho-educational approach to addiction: a case study
- Authors:
- STEEL Alan, RITCHIE Gordon
- Journal article citation:
- Drugs and Alcohol Today, 4(4), December 2004, pp.30-33.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This case study explores the potential of a psycho-educational approach to help a young unemployed man with learning difficulties and a history of drug and alcohol problems. Explores the potential of a psycho-educational approach to help the individual increase knowledge and motivation in order to begin to regain control and confidence in his life.
Sex offenders with an intellectual disability
- Authors:
- LAMBRICK Frank, GLASER William
- Journal article citation:
- Sexual Abuse a Journal of Research and Treatment, 16(4), October 2004, pp.381-392.
- Publisher:
- Sage
It is only in recent years that the myth of the incorrigible and untreatable sex offender with an intellectual disability has been seriously questioned. Current assessment and treatment approaches in this area assume that such offenders are accountable for their actions and treatable with appropriately modified techniques. Even though they may be initially hard to engage in the assessment and treatment process, the use of simplified approaches that support the day-to-day reinforcement of treatment concepts is proving to be effective with this population.
Delirium and learning disability: case series and literature review
- Authors:
- van WAARDE Jeroen A., van der MAST Rose C.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 32(3), September 2004, pp.123-127.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Although predisposing and facilitating factors for delirium are common in learning disabled patients, little is known about its occurrence. Presents 3 case reports and results of a manual and computer (Medline, Embase Psychiatry) search. Only 2 case reports were found, and added to the 3. Ages were 16, 17, 51, 55 and 78. Delirium was associated with eye surgery, anticholinergic overdose, urinary infection, Alzheimer's disease and pulmonary infection respectively. All had predisposing factors. The literature is scarce, possibly because diagnosis is often missed. Delirium is very distressing and raises morbidity and mortality. However, it is treatable, so more attention should be given to diagnosis and treatment, especially in vulnerable patients. A practice guideline assessment and treatment is given.
Effects of functional versus non-functional explanations for challenging behaviours on treatment acceptability
- Authors:
- McCAUSLAND Darragh, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities, 8(4), December 2004, pp.351-369.
- Publisher:
- Sage
The study evaluated the effects of type of information naive participants received about challenging behaviour on ratings of acceptability of two multi-element treatment plans. Three groups of 20 undergraduate students with no experience of intellectual disability watched an identical 5 minute acted video of an individual with an intellectual disability engage in aggressive behaviour. Voiceover on the video differed: one group was exposed to information derived from a functional assessment, one to causal information that reflected personality and emotional factors, and the third to no causal information. Participants then rated two multielement treatment plans: one based upon functional assessment, and the other upon general non-aversive interventions. Results indicate that all groups were more accepting of the functional plan. However, individuals exposed to information derived from functional assessment were less accepting of non-functional treatment plans. Results have implications for staff cultures and the explanations for challenging behaviours that these cultures endorse.
People with learning disabilities in a low secure in-patient unit: comparison of offenders and non-offenders
- Authors:
- REED Suzie, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 185(12), December 2004, pp.499-504.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
People with learning disability who exhibit challenging behaviour are frequently segregated from services and local teams are often reluctant to receive them back into their care. This situation is worse in those whose challenging behaviour includes a forensic history, but the difference between those labelled as challenging and those treated as offenders is not clear, and there is a lack of evidence about treatment effectiveness. The aim was to test between-group differences in aggression and treatment outcome in people with learning disability and challenging behaviour, with and without a forensic history. Clinical records of 86 former in-patients (45 offenders and 41 non-offenders) of a specialist unit were compared on measures of behavioural disturbance and placement outcome. People in the offenders group were significantly less likely to be aggressive to others and to use weapons, but significantly more likely to harm themselves compared with the non-offenders group. Both groups had a significant reduction in their challenging behaviour during admission, and there was no significant difference in treatment outcome. The negative reputation of people with learning disabilities who offend needs to be reconsidered.
Learning and behavioural difficulties but not microcephaly in three brothers resulting from undiagnosed maternal phenylketonuria
- Authors:
- SHAW-SMITH C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 30(5), September 2004, pp.551-555.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Universal screening introduced in the 1960s has reduced the incidence of learning disability resulting from phenylketonuria (PKU), which is a treatable condition. Nonetheless, PKU may still be having an impact on the paediatric-age population. The authors report a woman with previously undiagnosed PKU who was born before the onset of universal screening. She is of normal intelligence, and so the diagnosis was not suspected until after the birth of her three children. Her serum phenylalanine concentration was found to be in excess of 1 mmol/L, well into the toxic range. She has had three sons, all of whom have a significant degree of learning disability resulting from intrauterine exposure to toxic levels of phenylalanine. None of the sons had microcephaly, a physical sign that, if present, might have helped to point towards the correct diagnosis. We suggest that maternal PKU should be suspected where there is sibling recurrence of cognitive impairment, particularly where the mother was born before the initiation of the neonatal screening programme for PKU.
A special kind of brain: living with nonverbal learning disability
- Author:
- BURGER Nancy Russell
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 224p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Sharing the experience of bringing up a child with nonverbal learning disability (NLD), this warm and accessible book offers advice on subjects ranging across diagnosis and therapy, children’s interaction with each other, suitable activities for a child with NLD and how to discuss NLD with children. This book informs parents and professionals who work with children with NLD.
Guide to mental health for families and carers of people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- HOLT Geraldine, et al
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 240p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This guide outlines a range of signs and symptoms of mental health problems that can affect people with intellectual disabilities. The guide explains why mental health problems develop, and advises on what can be done to help people with intellectual disabilities and carers themselves. With chapters on specific disabilities such as autism and epilepsy, the authors cover topics such as: treatment and interventions for mental health problems; getting the best services and understanding policy around mental health and intellectual disabilities; legal issues, for example, what it means to ‘give consent’ ; and carers’ needs and support for carers.
Referrals to a learning disability service and consent to treatment
- Authors:
- CARLSON Tracy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 9(2), April 2004, pp.11-17.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This study investigates the current practice of referrers with regard to consent to treatment of adult patients who have learning disabilities. It addresses specifically referrers' awareness of any guidelines on consent, whether they obtain consent before referral and, if so, whether and how they keep written records on gaining consent. Professionals who had referred an adult patient to the Community Team Learning Disability (CTLD) in Newcastle in the last two years were sent a postal questionnaire. The results of the questionnaire are being used to gain better understanding of present practice among referrers and to provide local guidelines on gaining consent in line with recommendations from the Department of Health.