Psychopharmacology and mental retardation: a 10 year review (1990-1999)

We conducted a 10 year review of the literature pertaining to psychopharmac ology and mental retardation. Studies were included or excluded from the re view based on meeting one or more of the methodological criteria normally c onsidered fundamental for sound scientific research. The vast majority of s tudies conducted in the last 10 years in this area had major methodological flaws. While a large number of medications were prescribed for various psy chological disorders and behavior problems, most drug administrations were not based in science, were not evaluated appropriately, and generally did n ot follow best practices for treatment of persons with mental retardation. Very few medications prescribed were behavior or psychiatric symptom specif ic; that is, most medications were given to suppress a myriad of aberrant b ehaviors thus chemically restraining the individual in question. Practices such as these present serious problems for service providers due to the del eterious side effects of many psychotropic medications and the federal gove rnment's intervention into the care-provision practices of developmental ce nters, community homes, and other living arrangements for persons with ment al retardation. Implications of our review are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.