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Aggressive Behavior

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Handbook of Evidence-Based Practices in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Part of the book series: Evidence-Based Practices in Behavioral Health ((EBPBH))

Abstract

Aggressive behavior is common in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), and it is most often targeted for intervention. Psychological, contextual, and biological risk factors may contribute to the risk of aggressive behavior. Risk factors are gender (males), level of IDD (lower levels of IDD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), communication deficits, emotion regulation problems, impulsivity, and mental health problems. Next to this, several genetic syndrome groups (e.g., Prader–Willi, fragile X) are associated with aggressive behavior. This chapter provides a selective review of the evidence based on four major treatment approaches: anger management treatment (AMT), behavioral interventions, psychotropic medications, and mindfulness-based procedures. Studies have shown that relaxation coupled with stress inoculation and a focus on adaptive responses are effective components of AMT. There is evidence that behavioral interventions—especially extinction, differential reinforcement, and functional communication training—are effective in reducing aggression. Prior to behavioral intervention, the function(s) of the aggressive behavior should be determined using functional assessment. On the basis of the scientific evidence, it is difficult either to recommend or to refute the use of psychotropic medications for the management of aggression in people with IDD. Good-quality evidence is available only for risperidone among children with IDD and/or ASD. Before initiating medication, a case formulation should be documented including assessment and rationale for the use of medication. Finally, mindfulness-based procedures have been shown to be effective in reducing aggressive behavior of individuals with IDD in studies by one research group. These results, however, need to be replicated before conclusions may be drawn on whether mindfulness is evidence-based practice for aggressive behavior in individuals with IDD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Robert Didden & Nienke Peters-Scheffer

  2. Danshell Healthcare, 119 Americanmuir Rd., Dundee, DD3 9AG, Scotland, UK

    William R. Lindsay

  3. University of West of Scotland (UWS), Scotland, UK

    William R. Lindsay

  4. Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA

    Russell Lang

  5. School of Educational Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

    Jeff Sigafoos

  6. Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK

    Shoumitro Deb

  7. Personal Brain Care, Arnhem, The Netherlands

    Jan Wiersma

  8. Institute of Physiology, Research Unit iDN-interdisciplinary Developmental Neuroscience, Center for Physiological Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    Peter B. Marschik

  9. Department of Special Education, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Mark F. O’Reilly

  10. Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Giulio E. Lancioni

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  1. Robert Didden
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  7. Nienke Peters-Scheffer
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Correspondence to Robert Didden .

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  1. Department of Psychiatry and Health Beha, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta Univ, Augusta, Georgia, USA

    Nirbhay N. Singh

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Didden, R. et al. (2016). Aggressive Behavior. In: Singh, N. (eds) Handbook of Evidence-Based Practices in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Evidence-Based Practices in Behavioral Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26583-4_27

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