What is it about?
This paper aimed to evaluate the prevalence of childhood neurodisability and related neurodevelopmental behavioural intellectual disorders (NDBID) among a cohort of LACYP in a SW England LA. A retrospective review of the LAC caseloads in North Somerset Local Authority (NSLA) was carried out between Jan and Dec 2018 as part of the Clinical Governance strategies of the NSLA. No identifiable patient record was used and no research ethical approval was required.
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Why is it important?
Limited research has been carried out about their neurodevelopmental profile of Looked after Children (LAC) who are known to be more vulnerable to mental and physical health morbidities than their peers living within their birth families.
Perspectives
64 (93%) of the LACYP with NDBID experienced at least one or more psychosocial adversities/trauma (average of 5, ranging from none to 12). There was a significantly negative association between age and the number traumatic factors exposed to (p=0.008). The commonest psychosocial adversities were parent-related factors including poor mental health (67%), neglect (59%), drugs/alcohol abuse (45%) and exposure to domestic violence (47%). Conclusion There are present and future clinical implications of the high prevalence of NDBIDs experienced by the LAC need to be considered in planning and organisation of integrated multi-agency services for addressing their complex needs.
Dr Michael O Ogundele
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Postgraduate Medical Centre
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: P02 Prevalence of emotional and neurodevelopmental disorders among a cohort of looked-after children in a South West England local authority, October 2020, BMJ,
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-rcpch.531.
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