Intervention for behavioural and psychiatric disorders in people with intellectual disabilities often only takes place once these conditions are well established and more resistant to change. As an alternative, this paper promotes a public health prevention model and maps out opportunities for intervention at primary, secondary and tertiary…

Background: Concern has been expressed repeatedly about the cost and quality of residential placements for adults with learning disabilities and additional needs. This study sought to identify characteristics of the highest cost placements in the South-East of England. Method: Lead learning disability commissioners in the South-East of England…

Background: Media representation of people with intellectual disabilities may contribute to general perceptions held about them and reflect changes in policy and service provision. Materials and Methods: Articles from "The Guardian" newspaper in 2001 were analysed and compared to a previous analysis of material published in 1983. Results: There…

Background: Perceived problems around the use of physical intervention (PI) to manage challenging behaviour have led to UK initiatives to encourage policy development and accredited training. However, information on PI use and the impact of these initiatives remains limited. Method: Adult residential services within an English region were sent a…

Background: The use of physical intervention (PI) with people with intellectual disabilities continues to cause concern. This study sought to clarify the frequency and circumstances of PI use and gather data on the characteristics of individuals subject to PI. Method: Data on individuals subject to PI were gathered by postal questionnaire…

Background: This study sought to gather information about the impact of extended training in positive behaviour support on staff knowledge, causal attributions and emotional responses. Methods: Students completed questionnaires at the beginning, middle and end of a University Diploma course to measure changes in their knowledge of challenging…

Objectives: Active support was implemented in three community houses (active support houses), with 11 service users with severe learning disabilities. Methods: This was evaluated with reference to changes in levels of engagement, challenging behaviour (major and minor) and staff contact, measured against three comparison services (non-active…