Medicaid billing information was used to examine the administration of psychotropic medication to residents of community long-term care facilities providing mental retardation services. Results indicated 28.9 percent of such residents in Illinois received at least one psychotropic medication with little or no influence of demographic and facility…

This study found a high incidence of nontraumatic fractures in adults with developmental disabilities living in a state-run facility, a 7.3% incidence among 391 adults. Factors associated with fractures included use of antiepileptic medication. Although bone mineral density (BMD) by heel ultrasound did not predict fracture, values were much lower…

Administrators of residential facilities for persons with mental retardation are urged to take a proactive stance in determining the prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Administrators of one 345-bed intermediate care facility used a double blind seroprevalence study. No HIV infection was found in this group. (DB)

Effects of supplementary peanut butter on rumination behavior among five institutionalized mentally retarded adults were studied, by independently manipulating caloric density versus consistency of the peanut butter. Results showed an inverse relationship between rates of rumination and amount of peanut butter consumed, an effect primarily…

The study of effects of haloperidol drug therapy with 20 institutionalized mentally retarded persons found clinical changes confined to a slight reduction in stereotypic behavior and an increase in gross motor activity under the high dose condition. Subjects with high initial levels of stereotypy showed the best response to the drug. (Author/DB)

Psychotropic drug use in a large Massachusetts public facility for mentally retarded adults was reduced to and maintained at approximately 20 percent over an eight-year period during which a monitoring and evaluation procedure (including interdisciplinary team review, identification of target behaviors, and concurrent alternative forms of…

Individuals (n=199) with mental retardation referred for behavioral and psychiatric crisis intervention services were studied to determine attributes differentiating physically aggressive behavior from other behavioral problems. Aggression was predicted by gender, level of mental retardation, and history of previous institutional placement; the…

Examination of 1,273 individuals with mental retardation in a Virginia residential institution revealed that 15.55% also had psychiatric disorders. Males had a higher prevalence than females; individuals with mild retardation had higher rates than those with other levels of retardation. Prevalence rates are provided for specific disorders by level…

Analysis of data for 3,266 individuals from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey found that residents of state institutions were more severely retarded and more often multiple disabled than were residents of other types of residential facilities. Relatively more persons with severe impairments resided in state facilities in states where…

The investigation of mortality rates of institutionalized persons with mental retardation over two time periods (1974-79 and 1980-85) found a significant improvement in mortality between the two time periods. Causes of death were related to severity of retardation. Consistent differences by race or gender were not indicated. (Author/DB)

The cytogenetic survey of 67 individuals previously identified as having mental retardation and autistic behaviors revealed only 1.5 percent with the fragile X chromosome. The finding suggests that most persons with fragile X syndrome do not have autistic behaviors severe enough to be identified as a secondary psychiatric diagnosis. (Author/DB)

A national survey of state agencies regarding statutes, regulations, and operating procedures for initiating and monitoring psychotropic drug regimens of persons with developmental disabilities showed that most states had more rules and regulations for persons in institutions than in community settings. (Author/DB)

Analysis of statewide (Oklahoma) survey data revealed that 22.5% of individuals with mental retardation who were served by the Oklahoma mental retardation system were receiving antipsychotic medication. Higher levels of medication use were found in institutional settings and Intermediate Care Facility settings. (Author/DB)

Severely and profoundly mentally retarded institutionalized residents (N=74) who received lithium carbonate for behavior disorders were followed in a 10-year retrospective study. Thirty-one subjects demonstrated a sustained major reduction or elimination of behavioral symptoms. Lithium responders were likely to be older and to present symptoms of…

The study found that institutionalized mentally retarded persons were more likely to be maintained on neuroleptic drugs because of events (such as disturbing behavior, self stimulation, or physical aggression) perceived as significant and recorded by staff in clinical notes than for the reasons the drugs were prescribed initially. (Author/DB)