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Antipsychotic medication prescription patterns in adults with developmental disabilities who have experienced
1Dual Diagnosis Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, West Toronto, ON, Canada. Yona_Lunsky@camh.net
Abstract:
Antipsychotic medication rates are high in adults with developmental disability. This study considered rates of antipsychotic use in 743 adults with developmental disability who had experienced a psychiatric crisis. Nearly half (49%) of these adults were prescribed antipsychotics. Polypharmacy was common with 22% of those prescribed antipsychotics taking 2 or more antipsychotics at once. Predictors of multiple antipsychotic use included gender, residence, psychiatric diagnosis and previous hospitalizations. Implications of medication prescriptions to this vulnerable population are discussed.
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