title: Clinical correlates of verbal aggression, physical aggression and inappropriate sexual behaviour after brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the relationships between verbal aggression, physical aggression and inappropriate sexual behaviour following acquired brain injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multivariate statistical modelling of observed verbal aggression, physical aggression and inappropriate sexual behaviour utilizing demographic, pre-morbid, injury-related and neurocognitive predictors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical records of 152 participants with acquired brain injury were reviewed, providing an important data set as disordered behaviours had been recorded at the time of occurrence with the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT) Aggression Rating Scale and complementary measures of inappropriate sexual behaviour. Three behavioural components (verbal aggression, physical aggression and inappropriate sexual behaviour) were identified and subjected to separate logistical regression modelling in a sub-set of 77 participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful modelling was achieved for both verbal and physical aggression (correctly classifying 74% and 65% of participants, respectively), with use of psychotropic medication and poorer verbal function increasing the odds of aggression occurring. Pre-morbid history of aggression predicted verbal but not physical aggression. No variables predicted inappropriate sexual behaviour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Verbal aggression, physical aggression and inappropriate sexual behaviour following acquired brain injury appear to reflect separate clinical phenomena rather than general behavioural dysregulation. Clinical markers that indicate an increased risk of post-injury aggression were not related to inappropriate sexual behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of York, York, UK. andrew.james@thedtgroup.org
authors.forename: Andrew I W
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology