Crisis care for people with intellectual disabilities who display challenging behaviour (Prior, Hall, 2021)

Hassiotis A. Prior D. Hall I. Hamza L.

Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 2021;65(8): 721.

Background: Intensive support teams (IST) have had a long history in supporting people with intellectual disabilities who display challenging behaviour in the community following deinstitutionalisation. However, there has not been a systematic investigation of those teams despite several policy drivers to develop an effective acute care model for this population group.

Method(s): The symposium will compose of four related studies including a systematic review and three presentations (quantitative and qualitative) relating to an NIHR funded mixed methods study of intensive support teams in England, UK. Results/Aims: The presenters will discuss an updated Cochrane review on psychosocial interventions for challenging behaviour, and the findings from the clinical and cost-effectiveness of ISTs as well as the stakeholder experience of the care they have received.

Conclusion(s): ISTs are essential in the care of people with intellectual disabilities who face a crisis due to challenging behaviour. The symposium will establish new information relating to existing service provision which will be of interest to practitioners and researchers internationally. From Science to Practice: The systematic review and meta-analysis as well as the findings from the systematic investigation of ISTs will impact the care adults with intellectual disabilities receive and inform further policy and commissioning of services for challenging behaviour.