Psychotropic medication and psychotherapeutic treatment of adults with intellectual disabilities

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Matthias Schützwohl
• Subject Area: Public Health, Healthcare Research, Social and Occupational Medicine
• Term: from 2017 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 336778916

Background: The ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stimulated discussion about mental health issues in adults with intellectual disability (ID). A number of national and international clinical guidelines or recommendations on mental health care in adults with ID have been published in the last years. However, systematic and theory-driven research both into the adherence to recently published guidelines on psychotropic prediction in adults with ID as well as theory-driven research into barriers into psychotherapy or psychological interventions is lacking. In agreement with the German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (DGPPN), the current state of research in the field has to be considered 'extremely deficient' (DGPPN, 2008).Objectives: The study aims to assess the prevalence of psychotropic medication and psychotherapeutic treatment in adults with mild to profound ID; to assess quality of psychotropic medication (i.e. e.g. correspondence with existing guidelines for psychotropic medication treatment) in adults with mild to profound ID; to identify predictors of psychotropic medication and barriers into psychotherapeutic treatment in adults with mild to profound ID; to identify predictors of good clinical practice in psychotropic medication of adults with mild to profound ID.Methods: A representative sample of n=363 adults with mild to profound ID will be recruited. Referring to the Model of Health Services Utilization as developed by Andersen, a set of individual factors and health services system factors as well as outcome factors will be assessed. Information will be gathered form key carers, relevant staff members in ID services, and prescribing physicians. A main data source will be in-depth records analysis. Data will be analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests and regression analysis. Expected Results: Findings will fill a fundamental lack of knowledge and, hopefully, stimulate further research into the understanding of psychotropic medication and health services use in adults with ID.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants