Prevalence and patterns of antipsychotic use and their associations with mental health and problem behaviours among older adults with intellectual disabilities

J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2019 Jul;32(4):981-993. doi: 10.1111/jar.12591. Epub 2019 Apr 30.

Abstract

Background: There are concerns that antipsychotics may be used inappropriately in adults with intellectual disability for problem behaviours in the absence of a diagnosed mental health condition. The aim was to examine the prevalence and patterns of antipsychotic use and their association with problem behaviours and mental health conditions in older adults with intellectual disability.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were drawn from Wave 2 (2013/2014) of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA). Medication data were available for 95.6% (n = 677). Those who reported antipsychotic use and reported psychotic or other mental health conditions and those who reported problem behaviours were compared.

Results: In total, 45.1% (n = 305) had antipsychotics, and of those with antipsychotic use and diagnosis information (n = 282), 25.9% (73) had a psychotic disorder. 58% of those exposed to antipsychotics reported problem behaviours.

Conclusion: Reported use of antipsychotics significantly exceeded reported doctor's diagnosis of psychotic conditions in this study.

Keywords: antipsychotics; mental health; problem behaviour; psychotropic.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Comorbidity
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability* / drug therapy
  • Intellectual Disability* / epidemiology
  • Intellectual Disability* / physiopathology
  • Ireland / epidemiology
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders* / drug therapy
  • Mental Disorders* / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders* / physiopathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Problem Behavior*

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents