BackgroundEpilepsy is the most common neurological problem that affects people with learning disabilities. The high seizure frequency, resistance to treatments, associated skills deficit and co-morbidities make the management of epilepsy particularly challenging for people with learning disabilities. The Books Beyond Words booklet for epilepsy uses images to help people with learning disabilities manage their condition and improve quality of life. Our aim is to conduct a randomized controlled feasibility trial exploring key methodological, design and acceptability issues, in order to subsequently undertake a large-scale randomized controlled trial of the Books Beyond Words booklet for epilepsy.Methods/DesignWe will use a two-arm, single-centre randomized controlled feasibility design, over a 20-month period, across five epilepsy clinics in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. We will recruit 40 eligible adults with learning disabilities and a confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy and will randomize them to use either the Books Beyond Words booklet plus usual care (intervention group) or to receive routine information and services (control group). We will collect quantitative data about the number of eligible participants, number of recruited participants, demographic data, discontinuation rates, variability of the primary outcome measure (quality of life: Epilepsy and Learning Disabilities Quality of Life scale), seizure severity, seizure control, intervention’s patterns of use, use of other epilepsy-related information, resource use and the EQ-5D-5L health questionnaire. We will also gather qualitative data about the feasibility and acceptability of the study procedures and the Books Beyond Words booklet. Ethical approval for this study was granted on 28 April 2014, by the Wales Research Ethics Committee 5. Recruitment began on 1 July 2014.DiscussionThe outcomes of this feasibility study will be used to inform the design and methodology of a definitive study, adequately powered to determine the impact of the Books Beyond Words intervention to improve the management of epilepsy in people with learning disabilities.Trial registrationhttp://ISRCTN80067039 (Date of ISRCTN assignation: 23 April 2014).
In clinical practice, we have come across people with intellectual disability who have gender dysphoria and cross-dress. Here, we review the literature on this subject and present an illustrative case example. We searched databases, followed-up references from relevant articles, and contacted colleagues in the field. We found nine papers with case examples and one survey. Gender identity problems certainly occur in people with intellectual disabilities, and developmental perspectives are important in assessing and treating them. In some cases autistic spectrum disorder was co-morbid, for individuals with and those without intellectual disability. Aggression was also common. Documented treatments were primarily psychological and social and did not include hormones and sex reassignment surgery. Capacity to consent is a factor that determines treatment.
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