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An attachment-focused parent–child intervention for biting behaviour in a child with intellectual disability: a clinical case study
- Authors:
- MOHAMED Ahmed Riaz, MKABILE Siyabulela
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 19(3), 2015, pp.251-265.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Attachment and attachment-related psychopathology has increasingly gained focus since Bowlby introduced the concept into the clinical repertoire. However, little has been done to explore attachment, or attachment-based interventions, within the context of intellectual disability. Clinical experience, however, has demonstrated significant attachment-related problems in children with intellectual disability. This article explores one such case of a 13-year-old girl with moderate intellectual disability and severe and persistent externalizing behavioural difficulties – biting, in particular. Once the severity of the behaviour was formulated within the framework of attachment, a structured attachment-focused parent–child intervention was designed in order to repair the damaged attachment between mother and daughter as a way of addressing the problematic behaviour. Outcomes demonstrated a sustained – immediately, at 3- and 6-month follow-up – positive impact of the intervention not only on the presenting problem but also on the quality of the relationship between mother and daughter. Research and clinical implications are discussed. (Publisher abstract)