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A follow up study of a behavioral program for young people with learning disabilities and challenging behavior
Author(s) -
Kent Angela,
Bird Jackie
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
behavioral interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.605
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1099-078X
pISSN - 1072-0847
DOI - 10.1002/bin.2360090303
Subject(s) - psychology , learning disability , independent living , challenging behaviour , adaptive behavior , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , outcome (game theory) , gerontology , medicine , mathematics , mathematical economics
This paper describes a pilot follow‐up study of a behavioral program for 20 young people with learning disabilities and challenging behavior. Eighteen participants made good overall improvement during the treatment period, and this was partially maintained at follow‐up. Eight had continued to improve, eight had deteriorated slightly and four had deteriorated markedly. Adaptive skills were generally maintained. The reemergence of challenging behaviors explained the difference between the Good and Poor Outcome groups. Those participants in the Good Outcome group were younger on admission, scored lower on adaptive skills and higher on challenging behaviors. In addition they had remained on the treatment programme for 12–18 months and had been discharged from the Unit for longer. The overall level of independent living had increased from preadmission and the majority of participants were living in less restrictive placements. These results confirm and extend the findings of previous research. The paper concludes by highlighting the need for more detailed longitudinal follow‐up studies in this area.