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Background Adults with intellectual disability experience increased rates of mental health disorders and adverse mental health outcomes. Aim Explore childhood risk factors associated with adverse mental health outcomes during adulthood as defined by high cost of care, use of psychotropic medication without a severe mental illness and psychiatric hospital admissions. Method Data on 137 adults with intellectual disability were collected through an intellectual disability community service in an inner London borough. Childhood modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors were extracted from records to map onto variables identified as potential risk factors. Logistic and linear regression models were employed to analyse their associations with adverse outcomes. Results We showed that the co-occurrence of intellectual disability with autism spectrum disorder and/or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were associated with psychotropic medication use and high-cost care packages. However, when challenging behaviour during childhood was added, ADHD and autism spectrum disorder were no longer significant and challenging behaviour better explained medication prescribing and higher cost care. In addition, the severity of intellectual disability was associated with higher cost care packages. Ethnicity (Black and mixed) also predicted higher cost of care. Conclusions Challenging behaviour during childhood emerged as a critical variable affecting outcomes in young adulthood and mediated the association between adult adverse mental health outcomes and co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions, that is, ADHD and autism. These findings emphasise the need for effective early intervention strategies to address challenging behaviour during childhood. Such interventions for challenging behaviour will need to take into consideration autism and ADHD.

Background After the rapid implementation of digital health services during the COVID-19 pandemic, a paucity of research exists about the suitability of remote consulting in people with intellectual disabilities and their carers, particularly for neuropsychiatric reviews. Aim This study examines when remote neuropsychiatric routine consulting is suitable for this population. Method A survey was conducted of people with intellectual disabilities and their carers, examining their preference between face-to-face and video consultations for ongoing neuropsychiatric reviews within a rural countywide intellectual disability service in Cornwall, England (population: 538 000). The survey was sent to all adults with intellectual disabilities open to the service on 30 July 2022, closing on 30 September 2022. Participants were asked to provide responses on 11 items predesigned and co-produced between clinicians and experts by experience. The entire service caseload of people had White ethnicity, reflecting the ethnic demographics of Cornwall. Responses received without consent were excluded from the study dataset. Results Of 271 eligible participants, 119 responses were received, 104 of whom consented to having their anonymised data used for research analysis. There were no significant differences between preferences and age and gender variables. There was no statistically significant difference regarding preference for the reintroduction of face-to-face appointments (52.0%) compared with video consultations (48.0%). Travel distance (>10 miles) to the clinical setting was important but did not outweigh benefits for those preferring a face-to-face appointment. Conclusions This study offers insights into the factors that influence preferences about what type of neuropsychiatric appointment is most suitable for people with intellectual disabilities.

Background: Adults with intellectual disability experience increased rates of mental health disorders and adverse mental health outcomes., Aim: Explore childhood risk factors associated with adverse mental health outcomes during adulthood as defined by high cost of care, use of psychotropic medication without a severe mental illness and psychiatric hospital admissions., Method: Data on 137 adults with intellectual disability were collected through an intellectual disability community service in an inner London borough. Childhood modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors were extracted from records to map onto variables identified as potential risk factors. Logistic and linear regression models were employed to analyse their associations with adverse outcomes., Results: We showed that the co-occurrence of intellectual disability with autism spectrum disorder and/or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were associated with psychotropic medication use and high-cost care packages. However, when challenging behaviour during childhood was added, ADHD and autism spectrum disorder were no longer significant and challenging behaviour better explained medication prescribing and higher cost care. In addition, the severity of intellectual disability was associated with higher cost care packages. Ethnicity (Black and mixed) also predicted higher cost of care., Conclusions: Challenging behaviour during childhood emerged as a critical variable affecting outcomes in young adulthood and mediated the association between adult adverse mental health outcomes and co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions, that is, ADHD and autism. These findings emphasise the need for effective early intervention strategies to address challenging behaviour during childhood. Such interventions for challenging behaviour will need to take into consideration autism and ADHD.

Background One-third to half of people with intellectual disabilities suffer from chronic constipation (defined as two or fewer bowel movements weekly or taking regular laxatives three or more times weekly), a cause of significant morbidity and premature mortality. Research on risk factors associated with constipation is limited. Aims To enumerate risk factors associated with constipation in this population. Method A questionnaire was developed on possible risk factors for constipation. The questionnaire was sent to carers of people with intellectual disabilities on the case-loads of four specialist intellectual disability services in England. Data analysis focused on descriptively summarising responses and comparing those reported with and without constipation. Results Of the 181 people with intellectual disabilities whose carers returned the questionnaire, 42% reported chronic constipation. Constipation was significantly associated with more severe intellectual disability, dysphagia, cerebral palsy, poor mobility, polypharmacy including antipsychotics and antiseizure medication, and the need for greater toileting support. There were no associations with age or gender. Conclusions People with intellectual disabilities may be more vulnerable to chronic constipation if they are more severely intellectually disabled. The associations of constipation with dysphagia, cerebral palsy, poor mobility and the need for greater toileting support suggests people with intellectual disabilities with significant physical disabilities are more at risk. People with the above disabilities need closer monitoring of their bowel health. Reducing medication to the minimum necessary may reduce the risk of constipation and is a modifiable risk factor that it is important to monitor. By screening patients using the constipation questionnaire, individualised bowel care plans could be implemented.

Background An increasing number of children, adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism are being admitted to general psychiatric wards and cared for by general psychiatrists. Aims The aim of this systematic review was to consider the likely effectiveness of in-patient treatment for this population, and compare and contrast differing models of in-patient care. Method A systematic search was completed to identify papers where authors had reported data about the effectiveness of in-patient admissions with reference to one of three domains: treatment effect (e.g. length of stay, clinical outcome, readmission), patient safety (e.g. restrictive practices) and patient experience (e.g. patient or family satisfaction). Where possible, outcomes associated with admission were considered further within the context of differing models of in-patient care (e.g. specialist in-patient services versus general mental health in-patient services). Results A total of 106 studies were included and there was evidence that improvements in mental health, social functioning, behaviour and forensic risk were associated with in-patient admission. There were two main models of in-patient psychiatric care described within the literature: admission to a specialist intellectual disability or general mental health in-patient service. Patients admitted to specialist intellectual disability in-patient services had greater complexity, but there were additional benefits, including fewer out-of-area discharges and lower seclusion rates. Conclusions There was evidence that admission to in-patient services was associated with improvements in mental health for this population. There was some evidence indicating better outcomes for those admitted to specialist services.

Background There are no previous whole-country studies on mental health and relationships with general health in intellectual disability populations; study results vary. Aims To determine the prevalence of mental health conditions and relationships with general health in a total population with and without intellectual disabilities. Method Ninety-four per cent completed Scotland's Census 2011. Data on intellectual disabilities, mental health and general health were extracted, and the association between them was investigated. Results A total of 26 349/5 295 403 (0.5%) had intellectual disabilities. In total, 12.8% children, 23.4% adults and 27.2% older adults had mental health conditions compared with 0.3, 5.3 and 4.5% of the general population. Intellectual disabilities predicted mental health conditions; odds ratio (OR)=7.1 (95% CI 6.8–7.3). General health was substantially poorer and associated with mental health conditions; fair health OR=1.8 (95% CI 1.7–1.9), bad/very bad health OR=4.2 (95% CI 3.9–4.6). Conclusions These large-scale, whole-country study findings are important, given the previously stated lack of confidence in comparative prevalence results, and the need to plan services accordingly.

Background: An increasing number of children, adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism are being admitted to general psychiatric wards and cared for by general psychiatrists., Aims: The aim of this systematic review was to consider the likely effectiveness of in-patient treatment for this population, and compare and contrast differing models of in-patient care., Method: A systematic search was completed to identify papers where authors had reported data about the effectiveness of in-patient admissions with reference to one of three domains: treatment effect (e.g. length of stay, clinical outcome, readmission), patient safety (e.g. restrictive practices) and patient experience (e.g. patient or family satisfaction). Where possible, outcomes associated with admission were considered further within the context of differing models of in-patient care (e.g. specialist in-patient services versus general mental health in-patient services)., Results: A total of 106 studies were included and there was evidence that improvements in mental health, social functioning, behaviour and forensic risk were associated with in-patient admission. There were two main models of in-patient psychiatric care described within the literature: admission to a specialist intellectual disability or general mental health in-patient service. Patients admitted to specialist intellectual disability in-patient services had greater complexity, but there were additional benefits, including fewer out-of-area discharges and lower seclusion rates., Conclusions: There was evidence that admission to in-patient services was associated with improvements in mental health for this population. There was some evidence indicating better outcomes for those admitted to specialist services.

Background There is limited empirical information on service-level outcome domains and indicators for the large number of people with intellectual disabilities being treated in forensic psychiatric hospitals. Aims This study identified and developed the domains that should be used to measure treatment outcomes for this population. Method A systematic review of the literature highlighted 60 studies which met eligibility criteria; they were synthesised using content analysis. The findings were refined within a consultation and consensus exercises with carers, patients and experts. Results The final framework encompassed three a priori superordinate domains: (a) effectiveness, (b) patient safety and (c) patient and carer experience. Within each of these, further sub-domains emerged from our systematic review and consultation exercises. These included severity of clinical symptoms, offending behaviours, reactive and restrictive interventions, quality of life and patient satisfaction. Conclusions To index recovery, services need to measure treatment outcomes using this framework.

Background: There are no previous whole-country studies on mental health and relationships with general health in intellectual disability populations; study results vary., Aims: To determine the prevalence of mental health conditions and relationships with general health in a total population with and without intellectual disabilities., Method: Ninety-four per cent completed Scotland's Census 2011. Data on intellectual disabilities, mental health and general health were extracted, and the association between them was investigated., Results: A total of 26 349/5 295 403 (0.5%) had intellectual disabilities. In total, 12.8% children, 23.4% adults and 27.2% older adults had mental health conditions compared with 0.3, 5.3 and 4.5% of the general population. Intellectual disabilities predicted mental health conditions; odds ratio (OR)=7.1 (95% CI 6.8-7.3). General health was substantially poorer and associated with mental health conditions; fair health OR=1.8 (95% CI 1.7-1.9), bad/very bad health OR=4.2 (95% CI 3.9-4.6)., Conclusions: These large-scale, whole-country study findings are important, given the previously stated lack of confidence in comparative prevalence results, and the need to plan services accordingly., Declaration of Interest: None., Copyright and Usage: © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2017. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license.

Background: There is limited empirical information on service-level outcome domains and indicators for the large number of people with intellectual disabilities being treated in forensic psychiatric hospitals., Aims: This study identified and developed the domains that should be used to measure treatment outcomes for this population., Method: A systematic review of the literature highlighted 60 studies which met eligibility criteria; they were synthesised using content analysis. The findings were refined within a consultation and consensus exercises with carers, patients and experts., Results: The final framework encompassed three a priori superordinate domains: (a) effectiveness, (b) patient safety and (c) patient and carer experience. Within each of these, further sub-domains emerged from our systematic review and consultation exercises. These included severity of clinical symptoms, offending behaviours, reactive and restrictive interventions, quality of life and patient satisfaction., Conclusions: To index recovery, services need to measure treatment outcomes using this framework., Declaration of Interest: None., Copyright and Usage: © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2017. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence.