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A survey of aggressive behaviour among a population of persons with intellectual disability in Queensland
Author(s) -
SJGAFOOS J.,
ELKINS J.,
KERR M.,
ATTWOOD T.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of intellectual disability research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1365-2788
pISSN - 0964-2633
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2788.1994.tb00417.x
Subject(s) - aggression , intellectual disability , challenging behaviour , population , psychology , medicine , psychiatry , demography , gerontology , environmental health , sociology
. Asurvey was conducted on aggressive behaviour within a population of 2412 persons with intellectual disability in Queensland, Australia. Two hundred and sixty‐one individuals were identified who engaged in at least one form of aggressive behaviour, yielding an overall prevalence of 11 %. The relative prevalence of aggressive behaviour was higher among institutionalized persons (35%) when compared to those living in group homes (17%) or other community‐based facilities (3%). The aggressive behaviour sample included a higher percentage of males (64%). Most were described as functioning in the severe/profound (54%) or moderate (31%) range of intellectual disability with one‐third having no intelligible speech. Two‐thirds of the sample received medication for their challenging behaviour, while only one‐third had behavioural programmes. Eighty per cent engaged in three or more forms of aggression. Many also displayed self‐injury (34%) or properly destruction (30%). Surveys of aggressive behaviour may prove useful for coordinating services.