title: Self-injurious, aggressive and destructive behaviour in children with severe intellectual disability: Prevalence, service need and service receipt in the UK.
abstract: Children with severe intellectual disabilities are at increased risk of presenting with self-injurious, aggressive and destructive behaviour. Severity of these behaviours is an important predictor of psychological and behavioural service use by people with intellectual disabilities. However, studies suggest that the needs of children with intellectual disabilities and their families are not being met. The aims of the present study were to: (1) describe the self-injurious, aggressive and destructive behaviours and subsequent support needs of children with severe intellectual disabilities attending special schools in one major city within the UK, (2) compare teacher and primary carer ratings of behaviour and service need and (3) explore the extent to which the needs of children with intellectual disabilities are being met in terms of contact with relevant specialist services. Questionnaires were completed by teachers and primary family carers of children with a severe intellectual disability. Results indicated that at least 5.3% and 4.1% of children showed at least one behaviour at a clinically significant frequency and management difficulty respectively. Primary carers identified more children with significant behaviour difficulties and support needs than teachers. The odds for children presenting with high levels of the behaviours of interest for having a service need for behavioural intervention were at least 13 times those for children not showing the behaviours, yet only doubled for contact with a specialist relevant health-care professional. These results quantify the magnitude of the substantial gap between level of need and relevant support received.
authors: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service: Learning Disability Team, Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 40 Rupert Street, Nechells, Birmingham B7 4PS, UK.
authors: Loraine
authors: L
authors: Ruddick
authors: Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Louise
authors: L
authors: Davies
authors: Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
authors: Monique
authors: M
authors: Bacarese-Hamilton
authors: Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. Electronic address: c.oliver@bham.ac.uk.
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Oliver
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Aggression; Destruction; Intellectual disability; Prevalence; Self-injury; Service need; Service receipt