A STOMP-focused evaluation of prescribing practices in one assessment and treatment unit for people with intellectual disabilities

Purpose This study aims to understand whether psychotropic prescribing practices for people with intellectual disabilities are in keeping best practice guidelines. Design/methodology/approach service evaluation project was a retrospective analysis of routinely collected data from the care records all 36 disability discharged an assessment and treatment unit during first five years Stop Over medicating People Intellectual Disabilities and/or autistic (STOMP) initiative. Data were gathered at four time points (pre-admission, discharge, 6- 12-month follow-up) before being analysed differed among different clinical characteristics/traits/diagnoses. Changes over also explored ascertain how altered admission subsequent year community living. Findings Most left on fewer regular medications lower doses than admission. These optimised regimes still apparent 12 months post-discharge, suggesting effective discharge planning packages. Inpatients severe generally received more anxiolytics hypnotics, higher doses. Autistic tended receive psychotropics total cumulative doses, pattern that persisted post discharge. A third sample admitted anti-psychotic despite having no corresponding psychotic diagnosis, proportion remained relatively stable through into community. Originality/value highlights subsets population particular risk receiving high feasible template providers intending undertake STOMP-focused evaluations.