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

Psychotropic medications are commonly prescribed to address challenging behavior of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This paper provides a topical review of the literature examining support staff's perception of both their knowledge of psychotropic medication effects and the role they play (or lack thereof) when it comes to decision‐making and patient advocacy regarding psychotropic medication use. Also reviewed was the literature regarding the training support staff receive on psychotropic medication effectiveness and their side effects. Although training on psychotropic medication has enhanced support staff knowledge and awareness of medication effects, it is unclear if the training has impacted the overall use of psychotropic medication within this population. Existing gaps in the literature and recommendations for future research are discussed.