‘Chemical cosh’ given needlessly to patients

DOCTORS are needlessly doling out powerful antipsychotic drugs to thousands of patients, experts warn.

People with learning disabilities, dementia and autism are being given the drugs as a ‘chemical cosh’ to control their behaviour, research shows.

Anti-psychotics should normally be used to treat mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

But a study published in the British Medical Journal last night reveals that 71 per cent of people with learning difficulties who are prescribed the drugs have no history of severe mental illness.

The findings will fuel growing concerns that the nation has become ‘over-medicalised’ and that thousands of patients are suffering harm- ful side effects as a result. Use of the drugs as a chemical restraint to alter the behaviour of vulnerable patients is particularly worrying.

Scandalous treatment of vulnerable and disabled people was highlighted with the exposure of shocking abuse of residents at the Winterbourne View care home near Bristol in 2011.

Patients were forcibly sedated and restrained, with six care workers jailed and five others given suspended sentences as a result.

Campaigners said the new research suggests similar treatment is occurring outside care homes as well.

The study, led by University College London, analysed data from more than 33,000 people with a learning disability between 1999 and 2013. The patients they studied included people suffering from Down’s, dementia, autism and epilepsy. Many had difficulties with learning, com- munication, daily living and information and social skills.

The researchers found that 9,135 had been prescribed anti-psychotic drugs, of whom 71 per cent had no record of severe mental illness.

Of the 11,915 people with a record of challenging behaviour, 47 per cent had received anti-psychotic drugs, whereas only 13 per cent had a record of severe mental illness.

The authors concluded that people with a record of challenging behaviour were more than twice as likely to receive anti-psychotics as those without such a history.

Dr Rory Sheehan, of UCL’s department of psychiatry, said: ‘Many people with intellectual disability and behaviour disturbance have complex needs, and other interventions, such as looking at the support people receive and their communication needs, should be prioritised.

‘Anti-psychotics, or indeed any medications, should not be prescribed lightly and are no substitute for comprehensive care.’

Dan Scorer of Mencap said: ‘Sadly the report findings are not a surprise as they confirm what we have heard from families time and time again about loved ones being given high levels of anti-psychotic or anti-depressant medication, often for years.

‘In many cases families report serious side effects and no evidence that the medication is helping the individual. The research published today shows this is happening not just in inpatient units like Winterbourne View but in the community as well.’

Dominic Slowie, NHS England’s national clinical director for learning disabilities, says health chiefs are determined to take action to prevent over-medication.

Side effects of anti-psychotic drugs include weight gain caused by increasing appetite and making the patients more passive.

‘Sedated and restrained’