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Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2006) 12: 130-138
© 2006 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Mental health of children with learning disabilities{dagger}

Pru Allington-Smith

Pru Allington-Smith is a consultant psychiatrist dually accredited in child and in learning disability psychiatry and employed by North Warwickshire National Health Service Primary Care Trust. She works in a child learning disability team in Coventry and at Brooklands Hospital (Brian Oliver Centre, Brooklands, Coleshill Road, Birmingham B37 7HL, UK. Tel. 0121 329 4930; e-mail: pru.allington-smith{at}nhs.net), which has an in-patient service for adolescents who have learning disabilities in addition to severe psychiatric, behavioural or emotional problems.

Children and adolescents with learning disabilities have high rates of mental health problems and behavioural difficulties. Comorbid disorders such as epilepsy, autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are common. Despite this, many areas in the UK are failing to provide a psychiatric service for these young people and their families. The children suffer as a result and may have to move away from home unnecessarily, at enormous emotional and financial cost. Each area should have a specialised multidisciplinary health team working closely with colleagues from education and social services to assist these complex children and give them the best chance to fulfil their potential.




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