Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T08:23:43.888Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Prevalence and Cluster Typology of Maladaptive Behaviours in a Geographically Defined Population of Adults with Learning Disabilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Susan Smith ,
David Branford ,
Richard A. Collacott ,
Sally-Ann Cooper  and
Catherine McGrother
Susan Smith
Affiliation:
Frith Hospital, Leicester LE3 9QF
David Branford
Affiliation:
Frith Hospital, Leicester LE3 9QF
Richard A. Collacott*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Leicester LE3 9QF
Sally-Ann Cooper
Affiliation:
St. Mary's Hospital, Kettering, Northants NN15 7PW
Catherine McGrother
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Leicester ZE1 6TP
*
Dr R. A. Collacott, Department of Psychiatry, University of Leicester, Frith Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QF
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

Maladaptive behaviours are frequently present in individuals with learning disabilities; however, their prevalence varies between studies and the aetiology, classification and most appropriate management of such behaviours remain unclear. The aims of the study were twofold: firstly to determine the prevalence of maladaptive behaviours, and secondly to develop a classification typology.

Method

A population of 2202 adults with learning disabilities was surveyed to determine the prevalence of maladaptive behaviours. These were subjected on the basis of 13 behavioural characteristics to cluster analysis. The clusters were further examined in respect of secondary variables.

Results

Over 60% of individuals demonstrated the presence of at least one maladaptive behaviour and in 40% this problem was of either severe degree or frequent occurrence. Men were more likely to demonstrate physical aggression, property destruction, tantrums and verbal abuse than women. Although some severe maladaptive behaviours diminished with age, many persisted through all age groups. Six behavioural clusters were devised which demonstrated face validity and which differed in respect of demographic and developmental variables, and the prevalence of maladaptive habits and autistic symptoms.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate a high prevalence of maladaptive behaviours and ‘objectionable habits’ among people with learning disabilities. A classification of behavioural symptoms may be possible on the basis of symptom clusters.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 169 , Issue 2 , August 1996 , pp. 219 - 227
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bonynge, E. R. (1994) A cluster analysis of Basic Personality Inventory (BPI) adolescent profiles. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 50, 265–272.Google Scholar
Bruininks, R. N., Hill, B. K. & Morreau, L. (1988) Prevalence and implications of maladaptive behaviours and dual diagnosis in residential and other service programmes. In Mental Retardation and Mental Health (eds Stark, J., Menolascino, F., Alberelli, M., et al), pp. 3–39. New York: Springer Verlag.Google Scholar
Emerson, E., Barrett, S., Bell, C., et al (1987) Developing Services for People with Severe Learning Difficulties and Challenging Behaviour. University of Kent: Institute of Social & Applied Psychology.Google Scholar
Eyman, R. K., Borthwick, S. A. & Miller, C. (1981) Trends in maladaptive behaviour of mentally retarded persons placed in community and institutional settings. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 85, 473–477.Google ScholarPubMed
Groden, G., Dominique, D., Pueschel, S. M., et al (1982) Behavioural/emotional problems in mentally retarded children and youth. Psychological Reports, 51, 143–146.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, P. (1993) The nature and extent of aggressive behaviour amongst people with learning difficulties (mental handicap) in a single Health District Journal of Intellectual Disabilities Research, 37, 221–242.Google Scholar
Hill, B. & Bruininks, R. (1984) Maladaptive behaviour of mentally retarded people in residential facilities. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 88, 380–387.Google Scholar
Holmes, N., Shah, A. & Wing, L. (1982) The Disability Assessment Schedule: A brief screening device for use with the mentally retarded. Psychological Medicine, 12, 879–890.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hyer, L., Davies, H., Albrecht, W., et al (1994) Cluster analysis of MCMI and MCM2 on chronic PTSD victims. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 50, 502–515.Google Scholar
Isenhart, C. E. (1994) Motivational subtypes in an in-patient sample of substance abusers. Addictive Behaviours, 19, 463–475.Google Scholar
Jacobson, J. (1982a) Problem behaviour and psychiatric impairment within a developmentally disabled population. I. Behaviour frequency. Applied Research in Mental Retardation, 3, 121–139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jacobson, J. (1982b) Problem behaviour and psychiatric impairment within a developmentally disabled population. II. Behaviour severity. Applied Research in Mental Retardation, 3, 369–381.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jacobson, J. & Janicki, M. (1985) Functional and health status characteristics of persons with severe handicaps in New York State. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 10, 50–51.Google Scholar
Koller, H., Richardson, S. A., Katz, M., et al (1983) Behaviour disturbances since childhood among a 5-year birth cohort of all mentally retarded young adults in a city. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 87, 386–395.Google Scholar
Kushlick, A., Blunden, R. & Cox, G. (1973) A method of rating behaviour characteristics for use in large scale surveys of mental handicap. Psychological Medicine, 3, 466–478.Google Scholar
Landesman-Dwyer, A. & Sulzbacher, F. (1981) Residential placement and adaptation of severely and profoundly retarded individuals. In Deinstitutionalisation and Community Adjustment of Mentally Retarded People (eds Bruininks, R., Mayers, C., Sigford, B., et al), pp. 158–172. Washington DC: American Association on Mental Deficiency.Google Scholar
Oliver, C., Murphy, G. & Corbett, J. (1987) Self-injurious behaviour in people with mental handicap. A total population study. Journal of Mental Deficiency Research, 31, 147–162.Google ScholarPubMed
Reid, A. H., Ballinger, B. R. & Heather, B. B. (1978) Behavioural syndromes identified by cluster analysis in a sample of 100 severe and profoundly retarded adults. Psychological Medicine, 8, 399–412.Google Scholar
Sato, T., Sakado, K., Sato, S., et al (1994) Cluster A personality disorder: a marker of worse treatment outcome of major depression. Psychiatry Research, 53, 153–159.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sigapoos, J., Elkins, J., Kerr, M., et al (1994) A survey of aggressive behaviour among a population of persons with intellectual disability in Queensland. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 38, 369–381.Google Scholar
Sparrow, S. S., Balla, D. A. & Cicchetti, P. V. C. (1984) A revision of the Vineland Social Maturity Scale by E. A. Doll. Minnesota: American Guidance Service Inc.Google Scholar
Yoshino, A., Kato, M., Takeuchi, M., et al (1994) Examination of the tri-dimensions personality hypothesis of alcoholism using empirically multivariate typology. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research, 18, 1121–1124.Google Scholar
Zarkowski, E. & Clements, J. (1988) Problem Behaviour in People with Severe Learning Disabilities: a Practical Guide to a Constructional Approach. Beckenham: Croom Helm.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.