Monitoring and evaluating psychotropic drug use for persons with mental retardation: a follow-up report.
Psychotropic drug use in a large Massachusetts public facility for mentally retarded adults was reduced and maintained at approximately 20% over an 8-year period during which a monitoring and evaluating procedure (including interdisciplinary team review, identification of target behaviors, and concurrent alternative forms of treatment) was in effect. Average daily dosages for antipsychotics were lower than usually reported in institutional settings. Follow-up of 225 individuals receiving psychotropics showed that of 130 withdrawn, 69% remained off drugs, demonstrating sustained effectiveness of the review process.
Briggs
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Walter E. Fernald State School, Belmont, MA 02178-9108.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011367:Professional Staff Committees; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012112:Residential Facilities
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs