Trainee Psychiatrists

This walking tour has been designed as an introduction for a SHO in psychiatry new to intellectual disability. The Royal College of Psychiatrists UK requires all of its trainees to have some developmental experience, either in Intellectual Disability or Child and Adolescent attachments. Whilst many aspects of psychiatric presentation are similar in people with intellectual disabilities, these developmental issues and communication issues are fundamentally different and change the way psychiatric illness is both presented to the physician and subsequently recognised and managed. This tour gives an introduction to some of the areas that are important to address at the commencement of a post in this field. It also covers some areas of specialism that will be of value at all levels of experience.

Intellectual Disability Policy In England

Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century. An extract from the White Paper published in 2000.

Clinical Communication

The General Medical Council consider effective and sensitive communication to be one of the "essentials of basic clinical method". "Doctors must be good listeners if they are to understand the problems of their patients and they must be able to provide advice and explanations that are comprehensible to patients and their relatives".

Top Ten Tips For Effective Consultation

It is important to know who has intellectual disabilities in Primary Care. There are ways of identifying someone without embarrassing them. These tips may be helpful from the moment the person with intellectual disabilities contacts the GP. People with intellectual disabilities need to have sufficient time to allow them to speak for themselves.

Children Should Be Seen and Heard: A Young Carer's Personal View

In 2002 I heard 'Laura' give her first presentation at a local authority event. It was an important milestone for Laura - a teenager. Her presentation was so moving that I invited her to share it with a wider audience. Her only request was that her name should not feature. The following is the script from which Laura read.

Consent and People With Intellectual Disabilities: The Basics

Guide covering the law in England in 2006. Different rules apply in other countries. This website is hoping to feature articles on consent in other jurisdictions. The legal situation in England will change when the Capacity Act comes into force in 2007.

Depression In People With Intellectual Disabilities

Depression is easily missed in people who have social and communication disabilities, although it is probably more common in people with intellectual disabilities and people with autism than in the general population.

Recognizing Psychosis in Persons with Intellectual Disabilities Who Do Not Use Speech

In patients who do not communicate verbally, there are many cues that can lead a psychiatrist to recognition of psychosis.

Ageing And Its Consequences For People With Down's Syndrome

Ageing and the problems of old age are particularly relevant to people with Down's syndrome as some of these age-related problems develop earlier in life than would normally be the case.

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