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Using positive behavioural support (PBS) for STOMP medication challenge

David Gerrard (Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
Jennifer Rhodes (Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
Ruth Lee (Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
Jonathan Ling (Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK)

Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities

ISSN: 2044-1282

Article publication date: 3 June 2019

Issue publication date: 22 July 2019

796

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate if positive behavioural support (PBS) can be an effective alternative to medication, and can aid medication reduction in people with a learning disability, autism or both who are prescribed psychotropic medication for behaviour thought to be challenging. STOMP is an initiative supported by NHS England which aims to reduce inappropriate prescribing of psychotropic medication, i.e. antipsychotics used for challenging behaviour in the absence of a documented mental health diagnosis. PBS has been described as the first line of intervention for behaviours which challenge, (NICE, 2015) and has been highlighted as a non-pharmacological alternative to, medication.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-group, experimental design was utilised. Both groups were considered for medication reduction. The experimental group of 25 people received input from a specialist PBS team, while the control group of 29 people underwent unsupported medication challenge.

Findings

There was a significantly higher success rate for medication reduction and discontinuation when PBS assessment and intervention was provided as an alternative to medication.

Practical implications

This study indicates that providing PBS is associated with decreased medication and if replicated should be become standard practice for specialist teams.

Originality/value

This is the first study to investigate the effect of PBS on medication reduction in patients prescribed psychotropic medication for behaviour thought to be challenging.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Conflicts of interests: none declared.

David Gerrard and Jonathan Ling received a grant from the Academic Health Science Network North East and Cumbria to analyse the role of the pharmacist within the community treatment team. The AHSN is a collaboration between NHS Education and NHS Improvement aimed at showcasing good practice. It does not represent commercial sponsorship.

Citation

Gerrard, D., Rhodes, J., Lee, R. and Ling, J. (2019), "Using positive behavioural support (PBS) for STOMP medication challenge", Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. 13 No. 3/4, pp. 102-112. https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-12-2018-0051

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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