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Email usHelping people with a learning disability, who have behaviours that challenge, to avoid harm from psychotropic medicines
At the Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London, we are working with local partners to deliver the new national Medicines Safety Improvement Programme (MedSIP). The new programme was launched in April 2025 and aims to reduce harm from psychotropic medications.
There are about 1.3 million people with a learning disability in England. Approximately 14% of people with a learning disability are prescribed antipsychotic medicines compared to 1% of people without a learning disability. The medications may be used due to behaviours that challenge, which is not a diagnosis, but rather describes a range of behaviour that some people with learning disability may display when their needs are not being met.
Where possible, psychotropic medicines should be avoided for behaviour that challenges. But when needed, prescribing should be at the lowest dose, be reviewed regularly, and stopped as soon as possible. This can help to reduce side effects that can significantly lower the quality of life for those taking them.
The HIN are working with local partners to take a systems approach to change that includes NHS providers, social care, voluntary sector, and people with lived experience. The programme in south London aligns with STOMP (Stopping Over-Medication of People with a Learning Disability and Autistic People) and STAMP (Supporting Treatment and Appropriate Medication in Paediatrics).
We are working locally to better understand the great work taking place across the system, and where there are gaps we can support through joint working. The programme follows the key principles:
Management of behaviour that challenges requires proactive care planning and shared decision making with patients and their carers/ advocates, that incorporates non-pharmacological management to reduce overprescribing of psychotropics and the associated avoidable harm.
Multi-agency, system working is vital to ensure a co-ordinated approach that enables holistic support and improved accessibility across the entire pathway of care.
A recognised challenge is how to balance short- and long-term health needs and goals in this patient group, weighing up the risk vs benefits of using psychotropics which is often complicated by a fear of destabilisation and variability in access to non-pharmacological management.
Health Innovation East Midlands have shared Michael’s story, a film about the impact of reducing harm from psychotropic medicines.
