Main description:

'Challenging' behaviours are common among people with intellectual disabilities, resulting in significantly reduced quality of life. These may include aggression, self-injury, destructiveness, hyperactivity and inappropriate social conduct. This new edition provides a concise, accessible and contemporary summary of current knowledge about challenging behaviour, drawn from psychology, psychiatry, medicine and public health. Fully updated and revised, it includes comprehensive coverage of the epidemiology and aetiology of challenging behaviours, and evidence of the efficacy and effectiveness of different approaches to intervention. This edition contains significantly expanded sections on the emergence and development of challenging behaviour and strategies for prevention, at the level of both individuals and service systems. Essential reading for students undertaking professional training in health and related aspects of intellectual disabilities, including psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, teachers and social workers. This book is a key text for professional staff delivering health, educational and social care services to people with intellectual disabilities.

Contents:

Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. The social context of challenging behaviour; 3. The epidemiology of challenging behaviour; 4. Biological influences; 5. Behavioural models: the functional significance of challenging behaviour; 6. Broader environmental influences on challenging behaviour; 7. Making connections; 8. The bases of intervention; 9. Intervention: assessment and formulation; 10. Pharmacotherapy; 11. Behavioural approaches; 12. The situational management of challenging behaviour; 13. Challenges ahead: adopting an evidence-based public health approach to challenging behaviour; References; Index.