A Rational Approach to Use of Psychotropic Medications for Persons with IDD

Many individuals with IDD and their families, as well as clinicians and researchers, believe that psychotropic medications, and particularly antipsychotic medications, have been over-prescribed to persons with IDD, often with little clinical justification, and without appropriate monitoring for toxicity. Psychotropic treatment of persons with IDD should start with an accurate psychiatric diagnosis; or in the absence of an agreed-upon diagnosis, a well-thought-out psychotropic treatment hypothesis. This program will briefly describe the history of psychotropic practice with persons with IDD, the current best-practice of establishing a diagnosis before prescribing medications, and the need for continuous monitoring of individuals for evidence of side effects or toxicity.

Stephen Ruedrich, MD

Produced in 2017