Antipsychotics ‘still used as cosh’

Antipsychotic medications are still widely used as an off-label “chemical cosh” on people with autism and learning disabilities.

That’s the view of campaigner Paula McGowan. She says medics should always seek a “non-pharmaceutical approach and work closely with their neurodivergent patients”.

Paula McGowan believes people with autism and learning disabilities are still widely overmedicated

€130,000 compensation

McGowan made her comments after the family of a 15-year-old autistic boy in Ireland won €130,000 in compensation because he was made worse by antipsychotic medication.

Ireland’s High Court made the award after hearing how the boy’s mother claimed her son was left in a “zombie-like state” when he went on the medication.

The Irish Examiner says a psychiatrist’s report suggested the boy was “inappropriately” treated with an antipsychotic and another drug for 18 months.

Campaigner for training

McGowan’s 18-year-old son Oliver, who had a mild learning disability, epilepsy and autism, died after an allergic reaction to antipsychotic medication.

The teenager was given the drug against his wishes and those of his family. This was despite Oliver having reacted badly when trialled on an antipsychotic a year earlier.

McGowan, 58, from Bristol, has campaigned to ensure all NHS staff receive training in autism and learning disability following Oliver’s death.

Medics should ‘fully engage’

Teacher McGowan urged all medics to “fully engage” with NHS England’s campaign to stop the overmedication of people with a learning disability, autism or both. The campaign is known by the acronym STOMP.

The campaign was launched in 2016 to tackle an institutional culture of drugging and secluding autistic and learning-disabled people.

Later, NHS England launched supporting treatment and appropriate medication in paediatrics (STOMP-STAMP).

While STOMP focuses on adults, STAMP aims to ensure children are not overmedicated.

Autism Eye asked NHS England to comment, but it did not respond.

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Published: 15 December 2023

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