Antipsychotic medication prescription patterns in adults with developmental disabilities who have experienced psychiatric crisis

Antipsychotic medication rates are high in adults with developmental disability. This study considered rates of antipsychotic use in 743 adults with developmental disability who had experienced a psychiatric crisis. Nearly half (49%) of these adults were prescribed antipsychotics. Polypharmacy was common with 22% of those prescribed antipsychotics taking 2 or more antipsychotics at once. Predictors of multiple antipsychotic use included gender, residence, psychiatric diagnosis and previous hospitalizations. Implications of medication prescriptions to this vulnerable population are discussed.

► 47.8% of adults with developmental disability who had crisis were prescribed antipsychotics.
► 80.8% of people taking antipsychotics were prescribed antipsychotics plus at least 1 other psychotropic medication.
► Predictors of multiple antipsychotic use included gender, residence, psychiatric diagnosis and previous hospitalizations.