The extension of a set of needs-led mental health clusters to accommodate people accessing UK intellectual disability health services

• Published in: Journal of mental health (Abingdon, England) England), 2018-04, Vol.27 (2), p.103-111
• Main Authors: Painter, Jon, Trevithick, Liam, Hastings, Richard, Ingham, Barry, Roy, Ashok
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autism; Classification; Cluster analysis; Clustering; Data collection; Female; Health behavior; Health needs; Health of the Nation Outcome Scales; Health Policy; Health services; Health status; HoNOS; Humans; Intellectual disabilities; Intellectual disability; Intellectual Disability - therapy; Internal validity; Male; Mental health; Mental Health - classification; Mental Health - standards; Mental health services; Mental Health Services - classification; Mental Health Services - standards; Mental retardation; Needs Assessment; Needs-led; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; United Kingdom; Workshops
• ISSN: 0963-8237; 1360-0567
• DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2017.1294737

Background: A development of a needs-led mental health classification system based on the Health of the National Outcome Scales (HoNOS) has previously been developed. Aims: To extend the needs-based mental health (MH) clusters to accommodate the additional needs of people accessing UK intellectual disabilities health services. Method: Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed on assessment data from 18 National Health Service (NHS) provider organisations. The statistical results were clinically shaped through multi-disciplinary workshops. The resulting clusters were combined with six independently rated measures for a second data collection exercise. Based on these data, refinements were made before performing internal and external validity checks. Results: Eight additional clusters for people with health needs associated with their intellectual disabilities were produced. Three described primarily physical health (PH) needs, four described needs arising from behaviours which challenged (with/without autism) whilst one described people with generally low needs. Together, these covered 83.4% of cases with only a 10% overlap. The clusters were replicable and had clinical utility and validity. Conclusions: It was possible to extend the needs-led mental health classification system to capture the additional needs of people accessing UK intellectual disability services.