Brief report: Aggressive challenging behaviour in adults with intellectual disability following community resettlement

S Bhaumik,M Barrett,L Moore,L Talbott,S K Ganghadaran,S K Majumdar,F Tyrer,L B Raju,R Parker,N N Tin,K Dixon,J Devapriam,A Das Gupta,J M Watson,R Kiani

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2008.01111.x

Abstract

Aggressive challenging behaviour is common in adults with intellectual disability (ID) in long-term care facilities. The government's commitment to the closure of all facilities in England has led to concerns over how to manage this behaviour in the community. The aim of this study was to assess changes in aggressive challenging behaviour and psychotropic drug use in adults with ID following resettlement using a person-centred approach. The Modified Overt Aggression Scale was administered to carers of 49 adults with ID prior to discharge from a long-stay hospital and 6 months and 1 year after community resettlement. All areas of aggressive challenging behaviour reduced significantly between baseline and 6 months following resettlement (P < 0.001). This reduction remained (but did not decrease further) at 1-year follow-up. Further work is needed to evaluate the role of environmental setting on aggressive challenging behaviour in adults with ID.

Highlights

Aggressive challenging behaviour is common in adults with intellectual disability (ID) (Smith, Branford, Collacott, Cooper, & McGrother, 1996) and is prevalent among those residing in NHS accommodation
As a means of reducing aggressive challenging behaviour, antipsychotic drugs are commonly prescribed in this population (Robertson et al, 2000), but recent evidence suggests that these may not be as effective as previously thought
We aimed to investigate any changes in psychotropic drug use over this time period

Summary

Introduction

Aggressive challenging behaviour is common in adults with intellectual disability (ID) (Smith, Branford, Collacott, Cooper, & McGrother, 1996) and is prevalent among those residing in NHS accommodation (F. Tyrer et al, 2006). Aggressive challenging behaviour is common in adults with intellectual disability (ID) (Smith, Branford, Collacott, Cooper, & McGrother, 1996) and is prevalent among those residing in NHS accommodation The UK government’s commitment to the closure of all NHS long-term care facilities by the year 2010 (Department of Health, 2006) has raised concerns about how to manage this behaviour in the wider community, where it risks causing harm to others. Assessment of aggressive challenging behaviour after discharge from long-term care facilities is important to assess the threat to self, residents, carers and other members of society. Aggressive challenging behaviour is common in adults with intellectual disability (ID) in long-term care facilities. This study aimed to assess changes in aggressive challenging behaviour and psychotropic drug use in adults with ID following resettlement using a person-centred approach. Method The Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS) was administered to carers of 49 adults with ID prior to discharge from a long-stay hospital and six months and one year after resettlement in the community

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Results

Conclusion