Table 1

Sample characteristics

People with ID (n=14)Family carers (n=12)Paid carers (n=12)
Mean age (SD, range)46.1 years (12.9, 25–68)62.7 years (10.5, 42–80)39.4 years (9.5, 24–55)
Sex (M:F)9:53:96:6
Ethnic groupWhite (n=8)
Black (n=2)
Asian (n=3)
Other/mixed (n=1)
White (n=8)
Black (n=1)
Asian (n=3)
Other/mixed (n=0)
White (n=7)
Black (n=3)
Asian (n=2)
Other (n=0)
Degree of ID*Mild (n=12)
Moderate (n=2)
Mild (n=6)
Moderate (n=4)
Severe-profound (n=2)
N/A†
Relationship to person with ID/professional titleN/AParent (n=10)
Other relative (n=2)
Support worker (n=8)
Managerial responsibility (n=4)
Mean time working with people with ID (SD, range)N/AN/A9.4 years (9.0, 0.5–25)
Current living arrangementsIndependent (n=3)
With family (n=5)
Shared supported living (n=6)
With family member with ID (n=9)
Separately from family member with ID (n=3)
N/A‡
Self-reported psychiatric diagnosis*§Severe mental illness† (n=6)
Depression (n=6)
Anxiety disorder (n=5)
Other (n=2)
Severe mental illness† (n=4)
Depression (n=4)
Anxiety disorder (n=6)
Other (n=0)
N/A‡
Autism*n=3n=5N/A‡
Prescribed medication by group*§Antipsychotic (n=9)
Mood stabiliser (n=3)
Antidepressant (n=9)
Other (n=3)
Antipsychotic (n=10)
Mood stabiliser (n=2)
Antidepressant (n=9)
Other (n=4)
N/A‡
Mean duration of psychotropic use (SD, range)*16.8 years (14.0, 3–50)13.6 years (8.0, 1–27)N/A‡
Mean interview duration (SD, range)24 min (9.0, 11–38)38 min (10.9, 19–55)47 min (11.9, 31–73)
  • *Information provided by family carers relates to the person with ID they cared for.

  • †Severe mental illness includes schizophrenia spectrum disorders and bipolar affective disorder.

  • ‡Data for paid carers were not collected as each paid carer worked with more than one individual with ID.

  • §Cell total exceeds the number in each group as people were able to report more than one diagnosis and may have been prescribed medication from more than one psychotropic class.

  • ID, intellectual disability; N/A, not applicable.