Practitioner's Guide to Prescribing Antiepileptics and Mood Stabilizers for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Emotional, behavioral, and neuropsychiatric conditions are common in individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs), most notably epilepsy, aggression, self-injurious behaviors, and bipolar and other mood disorders. Despite the prevalence of such problems, there is a scarcity in the literature of reliable information on medical treatments for those with IDs.A Practitioner's Guide to Prescribing Antiepileptics and Mood Stabilizers for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities provides a detailed framework for prescribing for this challenging population. Featuring the most up-to-date information on factors that inform prescribing, the Guide addresses basic issues and controversies (e.g., the rift between evidence-based and personalized medicine) in treating adults with cognitive deficits. Clients' specific needs are emphasized in developing appropriate and effective pharmacological intervention for improved outcomes and quality of life. Drugs discussed in the Guide include carbamazepine, clonazepam, diazepam, ethosuximide, felbamate, gabapentin, lacosamide, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, lithium, lorazepam, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, pregabalin, primidone, rufinamide,  tiagabine, topiramate, valproate, and zonisamide. For each of these compounds, the guidelines cover:Indications for use; relative and absolute contraindications.Assessment during treatment; therapeutic drug monitoring; warning signs and symptoms for caretakers.Dosage: administration; initial and maximum recommended dosage; modifications associated with drug-drug interactions, personal characteristics, and (where appropriate) genetic variations.Adverse drug reactions: common, relatively uncommon, and potentially lethal, plus risk of metabolic syndrome.Guidelines for discontinuation.References, tables, and drug utilization reviews.A Practitioner's Guide to Prescribing Antiepileptics and Mood Stabilizers for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities is an indispensable decision-making reference for psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, psychopharmacologists, neurologists, internists, and clinical psychologists.

From the reviews:“A valuable contribution to the literature and helps fill several identified gaps. … The authors provide a well-balanced, extensive review of the literature, concisely yet thoroughly summarizing hundreds of articles into one user-friendly reference for the busy clinician. The authors present complex, detailed information in a well-organized, sophisticated yet easy-to-read style, enhancing the book’s clinical utility and applicability. … a valuable resource for a broad array of mental health and medical clinicians who treat epilepsy, mood disorders, and challenging behaviors in adult individuals with IDs.” (Rachel E. Myers, Journal of Child and Family Studies, Vol. 21, 2012)

Jose de Leon, M.D., is Professor in the Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington. He has directed the Mental Health Research Center at Eastern State Hospital for 14 years. He assists clinicians caring for patients with complex psychiatric illnesses at public facilities all over Kentucky by sharing his psychiatric and medical expertise with psychiatrists at state mental retardation (intellectual disability) and mental health facilities. He investigates deaths and recommends specific interventions for improving care standards and is working on developing specialized pharmacological guidelines for mental retardation (intellectual disability) facilities. The pharmacological guidelines on antipsychotics have been published in the journal Research in Developmental Disabilities. An expert in psychopharmacology and pharmacogenetics, Dr. de Leon's research career has been prolific. To date, he has published more than 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts in scientific journals included in PubMed. According to a computer search in the ISI Web of Science in April 2010, Dr. de Leon's scientific publications have been cited in the literature more than 4,000 times. And Dr. de Leon's "h" index is 35 (he has at least 35 articles with ae 35 citations).