The report analyses and summarises the evidence presented during public hearing 6.  It suggests that psychotropic medication, which are drugs that affect a person’s mind, emotions or behaviour, is being over-prescribed to people with cognitive disability to deal with what are commonly described as ‘behaviours of concern’.

Medical evidence along with observations from family and carers indicate people with cognitive disability often experience serious negative consequences from using psychotropic medication And there is not much evidence to support the effectiveness of psychotropic medication as a way to address behaviours of concern

positive behaviour support’ (PBS) which focuses on why a person shows a challenging behaviour, can reduce the incidence of behaviours of concern. This can then reduce the need to use psychotropic medications.