title: Psychopharmacological treatments in persons with dual diagnosis of psychiatric disorders and developmental disabilities.
abstract: People with developmental disabilities are at considerable risk for the development of comorbid psychiatric conditions. Psychopharmacological treatments may have a crucial role in a multidisciplinary and multimodal approach to the management of psychopathology in this population. Psychiatric illnesses that are particularly amenable include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHDs) and antidepressants, mood stabilisers, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, and stimulants should be considered, respectively. ADHD may also respond to alpha(2)-agonists. Psychotropic agents such as beta-antagonists can target aggressive, self injurious, and stereotypical behaviours and opioid antagonists may be helpful in treating self injurious behaviour and stereotypy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, newer anticonvulsants, and atypical neuroleptics are preferred when treating psychiatric disorders among people with developmental disabilities. This paper will review the major studies of pharmacological treatment of mental illness in individuals with developmental disabilities.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Child and Family Psychiatric Unit, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Antochi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stavrakaki
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Emery
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D003000:Clonidine