Assessment in an acute psychiatry setting

Successful mental healthcare can be given to people with intellectual disabilities in general psychiatry settings with appropriately skilled supports and safeguards. This requires development of local expertise and availability of specialist advice. Systematic application of standard psychiatric assessment methods, with some modification, is effective for most people with mild intellectual disability with mental ill health. Suggestions are given for improving communication. Staff of acute psychiatry units may have negative attitudes based on lack of confidence, rather than evidence. Organizational support could include identifying a nurse with an interest in learning disability to act as ‘named nurse’.