Heritage Behavioral Services Blog

PBS may substitute for Psychoactive medications overuse It has always been a known fact that overuse of psychotropic medications have become a problem in our society.  This is more so in the population with developmental disabilities.  A reasonable percentage of I/DD population have limited language skills and are not capable to communicate needs and wants effectively. Therefore, they utilize disruptive and challenging behaviors to communicate needs.  Most of these challenging behaviors are learned and reinforced inadvertently by caregivers and support staff. Understanding and sensitivity to verbal and non verbal behaviors and timely response to needs are the key to effective support. Use of psychotropic medications to manage challenging behaviors without diagnostic justification has resulted in the overuse of these medications.   These basic evidence-based guidelines will assist in the prevention of overmedication and the attendant side effects and complications. Psychotropic me

Autism is a group of developmental brain disorders, collectively called autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There are 5 different types of ASD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition - Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). Genes and the environment play important roles in their developments: The 5 different types of ASD:  Autistic disorder (classic autism) Asperger's disorder (Asperger syndrome) Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) Rett's disorder (Rett syndrome) Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD). TREATMENT: Early behavioral support is critical to positive outcome.