Non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions for the reduction or prevention of topographies of behaviours that challenge in people with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
In systematic review (82 studies, n=4637), a range of interventions for behaviours that challenge were found to be effective with small effect size. No significant differences between non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions were seen (all p>0.05).
Source:
The Lancet Psychiatry
SPS commentary:
A comment article suggests that the review reaches some important conclusions about the relative effectiveness of pharmacological and psychosocial interventions for behaviours that challenge, and suggests that more research to investigate whether antidepressants, instead of antipsychotics, could be used in the management of behaviours that challenge, is required. It highlights several concerns that are raised by the review, including: the quality of reporting of the included clinical trials, the lack of clear descriptions of the psychosocial interventions and the overall small number of available randomised controlled trials.