A Review of Support Staff Perception of and Training on Psychotropic Medication and Challenging Behavior in Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Johnson et al. (2025) looked at every paper they could find on staff training about psychotropic drugs for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. They wanted to know what training exists and whether it changes how staff think or act.

The team read dozens of studies, pulled out key points, and wrote a plain-language summary for frontline workers.

Training almost always helps staff answer quiz questions about meds. Yet no study shows that training leads doctors to prescribe less or to use milder drugs.

Biggest gap: we still do not know if better staff knowledge actually protects clients from over-medication.

Singh et al. (1996) already warned that 80 % of staff feel under-trained. Johnson’s review says the same need is still unfilled almost thirty years later.

Fahmie et al. (2013) counted that 58 % of New York adults with ID take psychotropics. Johnson confirms training boosts staff smarts but cannot show it lowers that 58 %.

Bird et al. (2022) cut meds for five kids with ASD using team reviews. Johnson agrees teamwork is promising yet notes no adult study copies that model.

Cox et al. (2022) found behavior plans beat pill changes for teens. Johnson cites similar adult cases but says solid trials are missing.

You can run the best behavior plan, but if the doctor, nurse, and direct-care staff are not talking, the client may stay over-medicated. Use Johnson’s paper as a meeting opener: ask your team what training everyone has had and who tracks med effects. Schedule one joint review this month; that single step closes the gap Johnson flagged.