People With Intellectual Disabilities Research Articles

Olanzapine vs. risperidone in treating aggressive behaviours in adults with intellectual disability: a single blind study

Aggressive behaviour represents a frequent symptom in people with intellectual disability (PWID). Despite uncertain evidence of effectiveness, the use of antipsychotics (APs) drugs to treat aggressive behaviour is very common. Antipsychotic medication of aggressivity in PWID has recently become one of the most debated issues in mental health and the need of further research is persistently stressed by most researchers. The present study was firstly aimed at evaluating the effectiveness (efficacy on target behaviour, safety and persistence on treatment) of new generation APs, in particular, olanzapine and risperidone in treating aggressive behaviour in PWID for who previous medication with first generation APs (FGAs) were not effective. 62 subjects with intellectual disability underwent to a 2-arm, parallel group pragmatic trial of olanzapine and risperidone with balanced randomisation and blind assessment of outcome at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks after a switch (cross-tapering) from a 24-week treatment with FGAs. Aggressive behaviours were assessed by Overt Aggression Scale (OAS) and clinical outcome by Clinical Global Impression Scale. Side effects were assessed with Dosage Record and Treatment Emergent Symptoms Scale, other symptom-specific scales, laboratory and instrumental tests. Both risperidone and olanzapine resulted to be more effective than FGAs in reducing aggressive behaviour. Repeated-measures analysis of covariance revealed that treatment groups differed for cumulative number of aggressive episodes during the FGAs treatment, which was higher for olanzapine. Our findings seem to confirm that olanzapine and risperidone can be effective in reducing aggressive behaviour in PWID. Both compounds resulted to be well tolerated, with side effects similar to those encountered in other patient populations.

ÍNDICE DE COMPATIBILIDADE DE QUALIDADE DE VIDA ENTRE INDIVIDUOS COM INABILIDADE INTELECTUAL, CUIDADORES/FAMILIARES E MONITORES EM OFICINAS PRÉ-PROFISSIONALIZANTES

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the compatibility of the quality of life indexes for people with intellectual disabilities (PID) from their own, family’s and monitors’ perspective. Material and Methods: This study is characterized as a field research, descriptive, cross sectional and of quantitative approach. The sample was characterized as non probabilistic, intentional, and obtained by accessibility among the participants in pre-professionalizing workshops in Joao Pessoa (Paraiba/Brazil). Sample was composed by PID (n=30), their respective caregivers/family members (n=30) and monitors (n=4). As a measuring tool, it was used the Quality of Life Questionnaire (QOL-Q). Results: The results were analyzed by frequency, mean, median, standard deviation, maximum and minimum and Pearson correlation test values (SPSS 15.0 program) using p less than 0.05. Data analysis shows: satisfaction index of PID equivalent to that perceived by their caregivers/family members (i=0.74), resulting in a high perception (p=0.259) and personal productivity index equivalent between PID and monitor (i=0.73), with high perception (p=0.365 and p=0.285). The dimensions of independence and social relations showed slight variation between PID’s and family members’ perceptions. Conclusion: A degree of incompatibility in the answers is observable, but it does not necessarily imply that the inter-personal relations are conflicting and are not positive, neither expresses the opposite, but shows that people with intellectual disability have the ability to assess their QOL in a coherent way. DESCRIPTORS Quality of life. Mental retardation. Personal satisfaction.

Aggression in Intellectual Disability — A New Approach

Aggressive behaviour is a problem for services providing care for people with intellectual disabilities, affecting the quality of life of the individual and the quality of care provided. Current research trends, which focus on risk factors and mental health problems, are discussed. Other factors that could contribute to aggression in people with intellectual disability (PWID), such as lifestyle and environmental issues are examined. A methodology that would allow for the integration of all these factors, Behavioural Sequence Analysis, is a suitable investigative approach to this problem.

Perspectives of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) on Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Among People with Intellectual Disabilities (PWID)

Perspectives of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) on Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Among People with Intellectual Disabilities (PWID)

Psychometric properties of the Mental Retardation Attitude Inventory‐Revised in Chinese college students

This study examines the psychometric properties of the Mental Retardation Attitude Inventory-Revised (MRAI-R; Antonak & Harth) in Chinese college students. The research questions included: (1) Is the MRAI-R a reliable measure for Chinese college student? (2) Is the MRAI-R related to familiarity with people with intellectual disabilities (PWID) and professional training? and (3) Does the four-factor model of the MRAI-R fit the Chinese college student data? Five hundred and thirty-four college students from China participated in the study. Descriptive, Pearson product-moment correlation, Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient and factor analyses were used to examine the reliability and validity of the MRAI-R in this Chinese college student sample. The alpha coefficient reliability of the total scale of the MRAI-R was 0.78. The alpha coefficient reliabilities for the integration-segregation (INSE) subscale, the social distance (SDIS) subscale, the private rights (PRRT) subscale and the subtle derogatory beliefs (SUDB) subscale were 0.50 (INSE), 0.78 (SDIS), 0.50 (PRRT) and 0.21 (SUDB) respectively. Correlation analyses indicated that familiarity with PWID and professional training had a weak correlation with attitudes towards PWID. A confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the standardized factor loadings and goodness-of-fit indices were inadequate (the chi-square/degrees of freedom ratio = 3.24; the goodness-of-fit index = 0.85; the comparative fit index = 0.69; the RMSEA* = 0.07). A principal axis factoring analysis (PAF) with oblique rotation identified three factors with 25% of the variance accounted for the sample. However, the results of this PAF were factorial complex and not interpretable in that many items of the scale had double loadings on more than one factor. The factor structure of the MRAI-R in this sample of Chinese college students did not replicate the structure found in American adults. Although the SDIS subscale of the MRAI-R appeared to be a reliable instrument among the four subscales of the MRAI-R, the reliabilities of the INSE, PRRT and SUDB subscales were low. Continuing investigations of the utility of the MRAI-R in Chinese culture is needed. Attitude instruments based on Chinese culture may be developed.

Teachers' Attitudes toward Mainstreaming

Teachers' Attitudes toward Mainstreaming