Evaluation of Treatment Interventions in Adults with Learning Disabilities

Established: April 2005; first meeting 13th October 2005

Convenor (Chair): Professor Nick Bouras, Estia Centre, Health Service Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London

Members: multidisciplinary group comprising psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, service users & academics in the fields of mental health economics, social anthropology, statistics & general practice. The group links with user organisations such as the Lewisham Mental Health Prevention Group and the Service User Research Group in England (SURGE):

Dr. Sabyasachi Bhaumik, Leicester University; Professor Dinesh Bhugra, Institute of Psychiatry, London; Dr. Stephen Brooks, Lincolnshire NHS Trust, East Midlands; Mr. Guy Carlile, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust; Professor Sally-Ann Cooper, University of Glasgow, Scotland; Professor Shoumitro Deb, University of Birmingham; Dr. Richard Gray, Institute of Psychiatry, London; Professor Christopher Hatton, Lancaster University; Professor Sheila Hollins, St. George's Hospital, London; Dr. Geraldine Mary Holt, Department of Health; Professor Patricia Howlin, St. George's Hospital, London; Ms. Jane Hubert, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London; Professor Martin Knapp, London School of Economics; Professor Paul Lelliott, Royal College of Psychiatrists, London; Professor Bill Lindsay, University of Abertay, Aberdeen, Scotland; Dr. Helen Matthews, St. David’s Hospital, Wales; Professor Gregory O’Brien, University of Newcastle; Dr. Ashok Roy, University of Birmingham; Dr. Vicky Turk, Institute of Psychiatry, London

Remit and Aims:
People with LD have significantly increased mental health problems, often associated with major risks to themselves and others, and serious offending activities. Improvement of clinical practice for people with LD would potentially reduce enormous human suffering and economic burden. However, the evidence base for clinical practice, unmet needs and service delivery remains scant. Most importantly, there is lack of large scale, multi-centre studies.

Broadly, activities entail the design of multi-site projects focusing on care pathways and the effectiveness of alternate models of treatment and service delivery. A wide range of research strategies and study designs are envisaged involving the triangulation of quantitative and qualitative methods, ranging from Randomised Controlled Trials and large scale postal surveys to in-depth individual and group interviews.

Current Status & Future Plans:                                                                     Discussions have taken place on the purpose and function of the MHRN Research Group in LD, the identification of projects to be adopted, the formation of writing groups and the focus for further activities.  The following outcomes have been achieved:

1. Writing groups were formed in relation to the following projects.
“Out of Area Placement”
“Assertive Community Treatment”
Research questions were identified in relation to the priorities highlighted by the Department of Health and the recent literature.

2. Three applications have been submitted to the MRC, Big Lottery Fund and the Department of Health. However, unfortunately these did not attract funding.

3. A further two protocols are being developed and the group will seek funding from the Department of Health and other non-commercial funders for these in the near future:
i) Differences in health care needs and experiences of care among adults with learning disability: a multi ethnic approach
ii) Community based services for adults with learning disabilities and psychosis.

In May 2007: The application on “Crossing the divide.  Effective treatments for people with neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan and intellectual ability” led by Declan Murphy, with co-applicants Philip Asherson, Patrick Bolton, Aisla Russell, Emily Simonoff and Nick Bouras was successful at the first round of Programme Grants of the National Institute for Health Research.