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Inpatient Psychiatric Care

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Health Care for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities across the Lifespan

Abstract

In this chapter, research addressing the nature of inpatient psychiatric care of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is reviewed. Following this review, a model for specialized inpatient service is presented. The model is based on the author’s experience developing and running a specialized inpatient psychiatric unit that served adolescents and adults with IDD over a period of 10 years. A number of the patients served had a comorbid ASD (about 30–40 % at various times), and most suffered from one or more of a wide range of medical conditions that complicated their behavioral healthcare. The model described includes elements found in most specialized inpatient psychiatric care settings, and some possibly unique or less commonly employed components. It is generally agreed that inpatient psychiatric treatment is an extreme, restrictive and expensive form of care. Everyone’s goal is to minimize the need for hospitalization, and maximize efforts to prevent acute behavioral and psychiatric episodes. Modern behavioral healthcare models emphasize the need for systems of care that focus on “wellness.” The best crisis intervention strategies are those that prevent crises, a dictum often embraced but rarely operationalized, with some notable exceptions such as S.T.A.R.T. Inpatient care, though necessary at times, is best viewed as one step in a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health care.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMass ID/MH Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team, Worcester, MA, USA

    Lauren R. Charlot LICSW, Ph.D.

  2. UMass Memorial Medical Center, 328 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester, MA, 01604, USA

    Lauren R. Charlot LICSW, Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Lauren R. Charlot LICSW, Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Lauren R. Charlot LICSW, Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Innovative Solutions for Disadvantage and Disability and Department of Pediatrics, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

    I. Leslie Rubin

  2. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and Medical Services, Division for Developmental and Developmental Disabilities, Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services, Jerusalem, Israel

    Joav Merrick

  3. Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA

    Donald E. Greydanus  & Dilip R. Patel  & 

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Charlot, L.R. (2016). Inpatient Psychiatric Care. In: Rubin, I.L., Merrick, J., Greydanus, D.E., Patel, D.R. (eds) Health Care for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities across the Lifespan. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18096-0_131

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18096-0_131

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-18095-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-18096-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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