Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 11
The impact of known criminogenic factors on offenders with intellectual disability: previous findings and new results on ADHD
- Authors:
- LINDSAY William R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 26(1), 2013, pp.71-80.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
It is well established that child development factors are important in relation to the development of criminal behaviour. Research on developmental risk factors for offenders with intellectual disability has found similar trends. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder are developmental disorders known to be over-represented among criminal populations when compared to the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which ADHD affects the presentation of offenders with intellectual disability. The data was drawn from the Northumbria/Cambridge/Abertay Pathways (NCAP) Project. Information related to index behaviour, history of problem behaviours, childhood adversity and psychiatric diagnoses was recorded in 477 adults who had been referred to forensic intellectual disability services. Comparisons were made between those with a previous diagnosis of ADHD and those without. The findings showed that the ADHD group had higher proportions of physical aggression, substance use, previous problems including aggression, sexual offences and property offences, birth problems and abuse in childhood. The article concludes that ADHD with conduct disorder is associated with a greater degree and history of problematic behaviour in offenders with intellectual disability.
Adults with intellectual disabilities: prevalence, incidence and remission of aggressive behaviour and related factors
- Authors:
- COOPER S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(3), March 2009, pp.217-232.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study investigates point prevalence, 2-year incidence and 2-year remission rates for aggressive behaviour (physically aggressive, destructive and verbally aggressive), and it investigates which factors are independently associated with aggressive behaviour. All adults with ID – within a geographically defined area of Scotland, UK – were recruited to a longitudinal cohort. At baseline, assessments were undertaken of demography, lifestyle, supports, development, problem behaviours, disabilities and physical and mental health. These were repeated for a 2-year period. At baseline, the participation rate was 1023 (65.5%). After 2 years, the cohort retention was 651 adults. The point prevalence of Diagnostic Criteria for Psychiatric Disorders for Use with Adults with Learning Disabilities/Mental Retardation (DC-LD) aggressive behaviour was 9.8%, 2-year incidence was 1.8%, and 2-year remission rate from all types of aggressive behaviour meeting DC-LD criteria was 27.7%. The factors independently associated with aggressive behaviours were lower ability, female gender, not living with a family carer, not having Down syndrome, having attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and having urinary incontinence. Incidence of aggressive behaviour meeting DC-LD criteria in adult life is similar to that for each of psychotic, anxiety and organic disorders. Aggressive behaviour is common among adults with ID, but contrary to previous suggestions, more than a quarter remit within the short to medium term.
Estimating the number of people with Down’s syndrome in Scotland and the cohort at elevated risk of early onset dementia
- Author:
- STUART Claire
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 22(3), 2017, pp.164-171.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to estimate the size of the population of people with Down’s syndrome in Scotland in order to provide a basis for estimating likely numbers of people with dementia in Down’s syndrome at a range of ages. Design/methodology/approach: Recorded data were requested from all general practitioner (GP) services in Scotland on people with an identified READ code denoting Down’s syndrome. A statistical weighting model was then applied to account for non-response bias. Findings: There were 3,261 people with Down’s syndrome estimated by the application of a statistical weighting model. Of these, 1,118 people (34 percent) were aged between 40 and 59. This age banding includes the age groups reported as having the highest incidence of early onset dementia in Down’s syndrome. Research limitations/implications: It is not possible to apply a benchmark to the percentage of observed data which gives an indication of how accurate the estimates produced are. Rather, the quality of the estimates depends on the response rate itself and the extent to which response is correlated with the outcome variable. In short, the quality of the final weighted estimates depends on the extent to which the biasing effect is mitigated by the weighting. As a result, a different response rate to this survey would have resulted in variations in the weighting model and therefore provided a different set of estimates. Social implications: Adults with Down’s syndrome have an elevated risk of developing dementia significantly earlier than the general population and require specific age appropriate supports and services to meet their needs both pre and post-diagnosis. The reality of this is currently not fully realized in either standard practice or national policy concerning the issue. Originality/value: This is the first set of data collected from GP services in Scotland to examine this issue and attempt to identify the population of people with Down’s syndrome in Scotland as a whole. (Publisher abstract)
Commentary on “Estimating the number of people with Down’s syndrome in Scotland and the cohort at elevated risk of early onset dementia”
- Author:
- DODD Karen
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 22(3), 2017, pp.172-176.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to consider the implications for people with Down’s syndrome and their families of identifying those people who are at risk of developing dementia from the research study “Estimating the number of people with Down’s syndrome in Scotland and the cohort at elevated risk of early onset dementia”. Design/methodology/approach: The commentary is based on a review of the associated literature. Findings: Estimating the numbers is important but has serious implications for people who have an elevated risk and their families. Preparation and ongoing support and planning are vital to ensure that quality of life is maintained as dementia is identified and progresses. Originality/value: The commentary considers the research presented from a practitioner perspective. (Publisher abstract)
Reactive attachment disorder symptoms in adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- MINNIS Helen, FLEMING Gail, COOPER Sally-Ann
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 23(4), July 2010, pp.398-403.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Unusual social behaviours such as disinhibited, overfriendly or, conversely, withdrawn hypervigilant behaviours are core symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Studies with children suggest that RAD is associated with pathogenic early care. Little is known about RAD in adults with intellectual disabilities, many of whom experience adversity and abuse in early life. This study investigated whether RAD symptoms occur in this population, and explored whether hypothesised risk factors are associated with higher RAD symptom scores. The participants were 50 adults with intellectual disabilities residing in long-stay hospitals. The participants and their carers participated in a questionnaire survey of RAD symptoms, childhood experiences, and disabilities. The results demonstrated that RAD symptoms were present in this sample, and symptom scores were independently associated with early childhood adversity, diminished with age, but were not associated with cognitive ability, gender, other disabilities, or number of childhood years in institutional care. The paper concludes that, as with children with RAD, it is possible that some maltreated adults with intellectual disabilities fail to develop stranger anxiety by the usual developmental age, but these symptoms reduce in adult life after decades of further development.
Diversion, a hidden hazard?
- Authors:
- CREAMER Anne, SIMPSON Murray
- Journal article citation:
- SCOLAG Journal, 277, November 2000, pp.8-10.
- Publisher:
- ScoLAG(Scottish Legal Action Group)
Discusses the policy of diverting people with learning difficulties from the formal criminal justice process unless it is not in the public interest to do so. This article looks at diversion policy, highlights some of the dilemmas it poses and asks whether it is always in the individuals best interest.
Injuries, falls and accidents among adults with intellectual disabilities. Prospective cohort study
- Authors:
- FINLAYSON J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54(11), November 2010, pp.966-980.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Injuries, and in particular falls, are a major causes of death and disability. Research indicates that young people with intellectual disabilities (ID) have a higher rate and different pattern of injuries compared to the general population, but data for adults is very limited. This study was designed to determine the incidence and types of injuries experienced in a 12-month period by a community-based cohort of adults with ID (n = 511, 53% male, mean age 43.7 years, range 16-79) living in the Glasgow area. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with participants 2 years after they had first been recruited into a longitudinal study. Incidence of at least one injury in a 12-month period was 20.5% (105), of which 12.1% were related to falls. Analyses looked at the type and causes of injuries and risk factors in terms of the nature of the disability. The impact Incident injury was predicted by having epilepsy and not having autism. Incident fall injury was predicted by urinary incontinence, while Down syndrome reduced risk. It is concluded that adults with ID did have more injuries, falls and accidents when compared with the general population. The authors suggest that there needs to be greater emphasis on individual injury/fall risk in the provision of support for people with ID at both the individual and organisational level.
Reducing the risks
- Authors:
- EMERSON Eric, HATTON Chris
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, May 2007, pp.23-25.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
This article reports on research which used combined data from the 1999 ONS survey of the mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain and a second survey in 2004 to investigate: the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents with learning disabilities in Great Britain; the extent to which learning disabilities represent a risk factor for psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents; the extent to which risk factors for psychiatric disorder within the population of children and adolescents with learning disabilities correspond to those within the general child and adolescent population; and the support available to families with a child with learning disabilities and psychiatric disorders. The results found that poverty and social exclusion puts children and young people with learning disabilities at far greater risk of mental health problems.
Promoting healthy lifestyles for people with learning disabilities: a survey of provider organisations
- Author:
- TURNER Stephen
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 24(4), 1996, pp.138-144.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Gives the results of a postal survey of UK provider organisations which investigated the nature and organisation of healthy lifestyle initiatives currently being offered to people with learning disabilities. Seventy percent of social services or social work departments in England, Scotland and Wales were represented in the survey.
Determining research questions on health risks by people with learning disabilities, carers and care-workers
- Authors:
- YOUNG Anita F., CHESSON Rosemary A.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 36(1), March 2008, pp.22-31.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The authors describe the process by which research questions were developed for reducing health risks for people with learning disabilities. The study itself was undertaken in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. A participatory approach was used to give service users and carers a clear voice in deciding questions, thereby setting the research agenda. Audio-taped interviews and focus groups were used. Forty people (20 service users, 10 carers, 10 care-workers) were recruited and gave consent for interview. Interviews incorporated scenarios and these were used to describe two different types of health risks (i) those relating to lifestyle, and (ii) those associated with unrecognized illness. Participants were invited to specify a research question for each scenario. A total of 78 questions were identified, and from these, six key themes emerged. The themes were validated using three separate focus groups (service users, carers, care-workers). From this process six final questions encompassing participants’ key research concerns were produced. Questions were resubmitted to participants for prioritizing, using a postal voting system (75% response rate). The research clearly demonstrates that people with learning disabilities and carers can identify and prioritize research questions they consider significant for improving health.