We conclude that we should be screening for the risk factors associated with low BMD in adults with ID. If these are present further investigations should take place and those found to have osteoporosis and osteopenia should have treatment at an early stage to prevent morbidity and improve their quality of life.
This audit was undertaken prospectively to examine the compliance of a group of psychiatrists against guidelines they developed for monitoring the onset of metabolic syndrome, a potential side effect of antipsychotic medication, especially second generation or atypical ones. Phase 1 of the audit was to set standards by a questionnaire survey of participating psychiatrists against Consensus Guidelines on monitoring (American Diabetic Association, 2004), which they favoured. The results led to modifying these guidelines to develop minimum acceptable standards against which their practice was audited in Phase 2. Although in Phase 1, 77% of the psychiatrists felt that they did some baseline recording, Phase 2 finding did not corroborate this--only 53.8% of the notes recorded the assessment of risk factors in personal history; 37.5% risk factors in family history; 31.7% baseline weight and 26.4% baseline blood sugar/lipid levels. In Phase 1, 85% of the psychiatrists thought that they carried out some of the recommended monitoring; our audit found the records of weight monitoring in 69.7% of the notes and blood sugar and lipids monitoring in 44.2%. People with intellectual disability have a shorter life expectancy and increased risk of early death when compared with the general population. Obesity is already a health issue for people with intellectual disability. We discuss the challenges faced by psychiatrists in implementing their own minimum acceptable standards and suggest measures to reduce the metabolic risk associated with antipsychotic medication through increasing awareness--use of information leaflets in accessible format, health promotion and use of side effect checklists and improving access--by working collaboratively with general practitioners utilising the forum of annual health checks.
SummaryCase-based discussion has been a key element of the assessment programme for psychiatrists in training under the guidance of the Royal College of Psychiatrists since 2007. Its incorporation within systems for recertification and thus revalidation for psychiatrists in established practice has now been piloted. This article discusses the origins of the instrument in Canada and the USA before describing its use in the UK. Case-based discussion is placed within the context of contemporary postgraduate medical education and the curricula of the College, offering practical guidance on how best to use this method for the assessment of reasoning and judgement. Finally, some questions are posed regarding the potential use of case-based discussion in the proposals for revalidation.
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