ABSTRACT
We examined aggression and psychopathology in persons with severe or profound mental retardation. Most aggressive episodes were directed toward other clients, and ratings of aggression were positively correlated with self-injury, stereotypic behavior, and being ambulatory. In a linear regression analysis of psychopathological correlates, aggression was most consistently predicted by dependent personality and psychosis. To better describe the construct of aggression, we also developed an Aggression-psychopathology scale. Persons with mental retardation and aggression were more likely to be impulsive, attention-seeking, dependent, socially inadequate, and anxious. Intensive efforts to modify the psychopathological correlates of aggression may improve treatment planning and outcome.
Subject(s)
Aggression/psychology , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Mental Disorders/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Comorbidity , Dangerous Behavior , Female , Humans , Intellectual Disability/diagnosis , Intellectual Disability/therapy , Intermediate Care Facilities , Male , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Mental Disorders/therapy , Middle Aged , Personality Assessment , Psychopathology , Self-Injurious Behavior/diagnosis , Self-Injurious Behavior/psychology , Stereotyped BehaviorABSTRACT
The influence of type of behavioral program and program outcome on university students' perceptions of a hypothetical 17-year-old boy with mental retardation who exhibited severe self-injury was examined. A positive program was viewed as more acceptable and effective than were other programs (extremely aversive, mildly aversive, positive combined with extremely aversive, and control). Successful programs were also judged more acceptable and effective than were unsuccessful ones. When a program succeeded the individual was also seen as more likable, competent, adjusted, capable of learning, responsible, and problem-free. These preliminary findings point to the merits of considering the individual's social image in evaluating treatment acceptability.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Behavior Therapy/standards , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Intellectual Disability/therapy , Self-Injurious Behavior/therapy , Social Perception , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Multivariate Analysis , Punishment , Reward , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Sleep patterns of 103 individuals with profound mental retardation were explored. Hours of sleep were counted from night monitoring sheets for 21 months for those individuals in continuous residence on one area of a large ICF/MR. Forty individuals (38.8%) were found to have short-sleep patterns. Comparison of short-sleep and nonshort-sleep groups revealed no predictive factors for short-sleep except blindness. Diagnosis of cerebral palsy and sodium valproate usage were predictive for nonshort-sleep. Pattern type of short-sleep nights were also determined. Younger individuals had more difficulty initiating sleep than awakening early. Short-sleep patterns may interfere with habilitation activities and community adjustment. Techniques for minimizing possible negative consequences of short-sleep were discussed.
Subject(s)
Circadian Rhythm , Institutionalization , Intellectual Disability/rehabilitation , Polysomnography , Sleep Stages , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Male , Middle Aged , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/psychology , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/rehabilitationABSTRACT
Perceptions by staff of the classes of reinforcers and aberrant behaviors of a sample of 470 people with predominantly severe or profound mental retardation were explored. Principal components analysis of a 45-item survey suggested eight classes of reinforcers: consumable, verbal-speaker, visual-motor, social, physical-contact, passive-observer, play, and academic reinforcers. Stepwise multiple regression was used to predict five classes of maladaptive behaviors as measured by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (irritability, lethargy, stereotypy, hyperactivity, and inappropriate speech) from the eight classes of reinforcers. Each class of psychopathology was related to a unique set of predictors. All classes of psychopathology could be predicted by staff perceptions of underresponsiveness to social reinforcers and overresponsiveness to consumable reinforcers. The findings of organized structures of reinforcers and their covariation with pathological behaviors have implications for research and intervention as well as theoretical value in defining aberrant behaviors in people with mental retardation.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Hospitalization , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Reinforcement, Psychology , Social Behavior Disorders/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Intellectual Disability/rehabilitation , Intermediate Care Facilities , Male , Middle Aged , Personality Assessment , Reinforcement, Social , Social Behavior , Social Behavior Disorders/rehabilitation , Social EnvironmentABSTRACT
The original factor structure of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist was cross-validated with an American sample of 470 persons with moderate to profound mental retardation, including nonambulatory individuals. The results of the factor analysis with varimax rotation essentially replicated previous findings, suggesting that the original five factors (Irritability, Lethargy, Stereotypic Behavior, Hyperactivity, and Inappropriate Speech) could be cross-validated by factor loadings of individual items. The original five scales continue to show high internal consistency. These factors are easily interpretable and should continue to provide valuable research and clinical information.
Subject(s)
Intellectual Disability/diagnosis , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Mental Disorders/psychology , Personality Assessment/statistics & numerical data , Social Behavior Disorders/diagnosis , Social Behavior Disorders/psychology , Adult , Female , Hospitalization , Humans , Male , Psychometrics , Social AdjustmentABSTRACT
The rating scale used to assess the motivators of maladaptive behaviors in persons with mental retardation was the Motivation Assessment Scale. In the current study, we validated the factor structure of the scale on a sample of 118 subjects with predominately severe or profound mental retardation. They exhibited deviant behaviors such as self-injurious and tantrum behavior, aggression, and passivity. The results of the factor analysis with varimax rotation validated the assumptions of the developers of the scale that the motivators could be grouped into sensory, escape, attention, and tangible reinforcers. These four subscales are easily interpretable and should continue to provide valuable information.
Subject(s)
Intellectual Disability/psychology , Motivation , Personality Assessment/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Humans , Intermediate Care Facilities , Nonverbal Communication , PsychometricsABSTRACT
Retarded subjects (N=79, mean age 19.9 years, mean IQ 61.9) were given a series of Piagetian tasks and interviewed to determine their degree of understanding of death. Age was not significantly related to an understanding of death of any of the measures. However, Piagetian cognitive levels were significantly related to a more realistic comprehension of death on three measures, indicating that cognitive development is related to an increasingly complex understanding of death by the mentally retarded person.
