A Preliminary Study on the Prevalence of Challenging Behaviours

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of challenging behaviour among subjects with learning disabilities in an English health district. Subjects' disabilities included incontinence, lack of communication skills, and need of assistance with domestic activities, feeding, washing, and dressing. Some also had physical impairments. The most common behaviours were hyperactivity and irritability and the most common psychiatric disorders included severe anxiety, affective disorder, and adjustment disorder.