title: [Drug use by mentally handicapped persons in institutions and family-replacing residential facilities].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Description of use of medication by people with mental handicaps in relation to age, level of mental handicap and living facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Institutions and group homes for people with mental handicaps in North Brabant and Limburg, the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of a patient sample (n = 1265), stratified according to age and living facility (i.e. institution or group home) data were collected by means of questionnaires to be completed by the general practitioners. For 101 persons data about level of mental handicap were lacking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  57% of the patients used one or more drugs. The numbers of drugs used were significantly related to (increased) age and level of mental handicap. Older patients more often used antipsychotics, laxatives and cardiovascular medication, younger ones more often used anticonvulsants. More severely handicapped persons used antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, laxatives, antacids, psychoactive medication and gastrointestinal medication more often. There was no relationship between amount of medication and living facility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many mentally handicapped use medication. Since epilepsy, psychiatric and behavioural diseases and gastrointestinal problems are frequent, and because the patients offer little spontaneous information, alertness with respect to drug interaction and side effects is indicated.
authors.affiliation: Stichting Pepijnklinieken, Echt.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: van Schrojenstein Lantman-de Valk
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kessels
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Haveman
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Maaskant
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Urlings
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van den Akker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012112:Residential Facilities
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
vernacular_title: Medicijngebruik door verstandelijk gehandicapten in instituten en gezinsvervangende tehuizen.