Severe intellectual disability is a health condition characterized by limits to a person’s
ability to learn at an expected rate and function in their daily life. People with
severe intellectual disability have a noticeable motor impairment, abnormal central nervous
system development, and an IQ level of between 20 and 34. Trauma before
birth is the most common cause of intellectual disability and includes exposure to alcohol, drugs,
or other toxins. It can also be caused by inherited disorders such as Tay-Sachs
disease and chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome. It
can be treated through special education, physical exercise, and therapies such as behavioral
therapy and sensory therapy. The condition can also be treated using medications such as
Risperidone 2.5 mg, Carbamazepine 2000 mg, Sodium Valproate 2700 mg, and Lamotrigine 400
mg.

What is Severe Intellectual Disability?

In the case of a 22-year-old woman with severe intellectual disability who wakes up at
3:00 am each night and wakes up others in the group home, it would be appropriate to increase
Trazodone dosage. This means increasing the dosage from 150 mg to 200 mg
or even 300 mg at bedtime. Additionally, it is scientifically proven that the Trazodone tablet is
effective for treating both primary insomnia and secondary insomnia. Further
studies reveal that Trazodone has a greater utility as a sleep aid than it has an antidepressant
medication. Therefore, I would agree with the staff member from the group
home to try and increase the Trazodone dosage.

What is the most ideal treatment?

Medication changes are common in health care facilities, especially for patients who
register no improvement with a certain prescription. For instance, it is in order for care providers
to do medication changes for the 22-year-old patient with this condition. The patient is on Trazodone 150 mg tablet but continues to wake up at 3:00 am and wakes up others.
However, only pharmacists, doctors, nurse practitioners, and general practitioners can review
prescriptions. In this case, the staff member would need the
approval of any of the mentioned care providers to affirm medication changes.
The evidence-based interventions to the group home staff handling a patient
with severe intellectual disability include a combination of medication with occupational therapy,  and speech therapy. APA