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Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2004) 10: 200-206
© 2004 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Improving the general health of people with learning disabilities

Mike Kerr

Mike Kerr is Professor of Learning Disabilities and an honorary consultant in neuropsychiatry at the Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities (Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Meridian Court, North Road, Cardiff CF14 3BG, UK. E-mail: kerrmp{at}cf.ac.uk).

People with learning disabilities suffer an increase in common morbidity, communication difficulties, a high prevalence of serious conditions such as epilepsy, and specific patterns of health needs associated with the aetiology of their disability. Unfortunately, this combination of need is mirrored by a consistent picture of poor health promotion uptake, inadequate care for serious morbidity, unrecognised health need and poor access to health care. Consequently, there is a great disparity between the health of learning-disabled people and that of the general population. Psychiatrists can address this disparity in clinical practice by focusing on these patients’ mental health, epilepsy management and the impact of behaviour on health. They can also influence health planning and service development.




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Copyright © 2004 The Royal College of Psychiatrists.