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Self-injurious behaviour in people with a mental handicap
Nursing Times
|June 6, 1990
Summary
Age, intellectual disability severity, engagement in activities, and lack of expressive language significantly impact self-injurious behavior (SIB) frequency in individuals with mental handicaps. Many individuals without expressive language self-injured daily.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Developmental Disabilities
Background:
- Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a significant concern in individuals with intellectual disabilities.
- Understanding the factors contributing to SIB is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze variables associated with self-injurious behavior (SIB) in a hospital population with mental handicaps.
- To identify key predictors of SIB frequency.
Main Methods:
- Survey of a hospital population for individuals with mental handicaps.
- Analysis of numerous variables including age, intellectual disability level, activity engagement, and expressive language.
- Inclusion of data on employed treatment methods.
Main Results:
- Age, level of intellectual disability, activity engagement, and absence of expressive language were found to significantly influence SIB frequency.
- Nearly 75% of the surveyed population lacked expressive language.
- A majority of individuals with SIB engaged in the behavior more than once daily.
Conclusions:
- Expressive language ability is a critical factor in self-injurious behavior.
- Interventions should consider individual characteristics such as age, disability level, and communication skills.
- Further research into treatment efficacy for SIB is warranted.