Stopping over-medication of people with an intellectual disability, autism or both (STOMP) in England part 2 – the story so far

Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Ahead of Print. Purpose The STOMP programme – stopping the over-medication of people with an intellectual disability, autism or both is a three-year programme supported by NHS England. Concern about the overuse of antipsychotic drugs has been a constant theme since the 1970s. However, despite a multitude of guidelines the practice continues . The report into the events at Winterbourne View not only raised concerns about the overuse of antipsychotic drugs but of antidepressants. Part 1 presented the historical background to the use of psychotropic drugs for people with an intellectual disability, autism or both. The purpose of this pape r (Part 2) is to present the approach adopted to reduce over-medication (the “Call to Action”) and the progress so far at the half way stage. Design/methodology/approach The “Call to Action” methodology is described in a Manchester University report – mobilising and organising for large- scale change in healthcare “The Right Prescription: A Call to Action on the use of antipsychotic drugs for people with dementia”. Their research suggested that a social mobilising and organising approach to change operates could provide a mechanism for bringing about change where other approache s had failed. Findings The adoption of the “Call to Action” methodology has resulted in widespread acknowledgement across intellectual disability practice that overuse of psychotropic medica...
Source: Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities - Category: Disability Source Type: research