Psychotropic medications should only be prescribed as a “last resort” for behaviours of concern in patients with intellectual disability, according to a new clinical care standard.

Doctors are also urged to obtain informed consent where possible and to clearly document the reason for use at the time of prescribing.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) published the standard last week in a bid to curb inappropriate prescribing of psychotropic medications in the aged care and disability sectors.

This includes antipsychotic, antidepressant and anxiolytic/hypnotic medicines being prescribed “at excessive doses, for long periods, often off-label, and with no clear clinical justification, adequate monitoring or review”.