Critical Conversations in Emergency Psychiatry

Evaluating Aggression in People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the Emergency Department

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Date & Time: Monday, April 27 2026 10amPT/11amMT/12pmCT/1pmET

About the webinar: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are at higher risk for ED visits due to adverse behavior. Misinterpretation of these behaviors can lead to inaccurate diagnoses, prolonged suffering, and poor outcomes. This presentation will include a discussion of the most common reasons for agitation and aggression in people with IDD from a biopsychosocial perspective. It will include case studies illustrating how a simple, yet comprehensive approach can improve outcomes.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the causes of aggression in patients with IDD
• Learn a systematic approach to evaluation and care
•  Improve outcomes and reduce unnecessary restraints or sedation

 Webinar format: AAEP webinar moderators will kick off each session with a 15-30 minute introduction to the topic. The remainder of the session time is dedicated to open group discussion, allowing for deeper exploration and exchange of insights.

Moderators: Craig Escude, MD, FAAFP, FAADM, FAAIDD

Dr. Craig Escudé is a board-certified Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Developmental Medicine, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and President of IntellectAbility. He has more than 20 years of clinical experience providing medical care for people with IDD and complex medical and mental health conditions, serving as the medical director of Hudspeth Regional Center in Mississippi for most of that time. While there, he founded DETECT, the Developmental Evaluation, Training, and Educational Consultative Team of Mississippi. He is the author of “Clinical Pearls in IDD Healthcare” and developer of the “Curriculum in IDD Healthcare,” an eLearning course used to train clinicians on the fundamentals of healthcare for people with IDD, and the host of the IDD Health Matters Podcast.

About the series: This free webinar series is a moderator-led monthly virtual forum for AAEP members to discuss important and interesting topics in the field of Emergency Psychiatry. Webinars are recorded and will be available to members in AAEP's online learning center. 

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