Suzie Reed1, Ailsa Russell, Kiriakos Xenitidis, Declan G M Murphy. 1. Maudsley Centre for Behavioural Disorders, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, and Health Services Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, London SE5 8AF, UK. S.Reed@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: People with learning disability who exhibit challenging behaviour are frequently segregated from services and local teams are often reluctant to receive them back into their care. This situation is worse in those whose challenging behaviour includes a forensic history, but the difference between those labelled as challenging and those treated as offenders is not clear, and there is a lack of evidence about treatment effectiveness. AIMS: To test between-group differences in aggression and treatment outcome in people with learning disability and challenging behaviour, with and without a forensic history. METHOD: Clinical records of 86 former in-patients (45 offenders and 41 non-offenders) of a specialist unit were compared on measures of behavioural disturbance and placement outcome. RESULTS: People in the offenders group were significantly less likely to be aggressive to others and to use weapons, but significantly more likely to harm themselves compared with the non-offenders group. Both groups had a significant reduction in their challenging behaviour during admission, and there was no significant difference in treatment outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The negative reputation of people with learning disabilities who offend needs to be reconsidered.
BACKGROUND:People with learning disability who exhibit challenging behaviour are frequently segregated from services and local teams are often reluctant to receive them back into their care. This situation is worse in those whose challenging behaviour includes a forensic history, but the difference between those labelled as challenging and those treated as offenders is not clear, and there is a lack of evidence about treatment effectiveness. AIMS: To test between-group differences in aggression and treatment outcome in people with learning disability and challenging behaviour, with and without a forensic history. METHOD: Clinical records of 86 former in-patients (45 offenders and 41 non-offenders) of a specialist unit were compared on measures of behavioural disturbance and placement outcome. RESULTS:People in the offenders group were significantly less likely to be aggressive to others and to use weapons, but significantly more likely to harm themselves compared with the non-offenders group. Both groups had a significant reduction in their challenging behaviour during admission, and there was no significant difference in treatment outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The negative reputation of people with learning disabilities who offend needs to be reconsidered.
Authors: Catrin Morrissey; Peter E Langdon; Nicole Geach; Verity Chester; Michael Ferriter; William R Lindsay; Jane McCarthy; John Devapriam; Dawn-Marie Walker; Conor Duggan; Regi Alexander Journal: BJPsych Open Date: 2017-02-13