The Psychiatrist (1998) 22: 601-604. doi: 10.1192/pb.22.10.601
© 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Cooray, S. E.
Right arrow Articles by Tolmac, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Cooray, S. E.
Right arrow Articles by Tolmac, J.

Antipsychotic medication in learning disability

Impact of audit and evidence-based medicine on quality of prescribing in a community assessment treatment unit

Sherva E. Cooray, Consultant Psychiatrist* and Jovanka Tolmac, Senior House Officer

Parkside Health Trust, Kingsbury Community Hospital, Honeypot Lane, London NW9 9QY

* Correspondence

Aims and method Antipsychotic medication, an effective treatment modality in the management of psychiatric/behaviour disorders in people with learning disability, is often criticised because of poor clinical practice. Rational and judicious use, subject to evidence-based guidelines and systematic monitoring, is mandatory. A five-year clinical audit programme on the quality of prescribing for this clientele was undertaken.

Results Significant quality improvement with minimal resource consumption was demonstrated.

Clinical implications Clinical audit facilitates high-quality prescribing: pragmatic and economic, it can easily be integrated into routine clinical practice.