Measuring the emotional development of adults with ID
| Published date | 09 September 2013 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-06-2013-0045 |
| Pages | 272-276 |
| Date | 09 September 2013 |
| Author | Pat Frankish |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities |
Measuring the emotional development
of adults with ID
Pat Frankish
Dr Pat Frankish is a Consultant
Clinical Psychologist, based at
Pat Frankish Psychology and
Psychotherapy Consultancy
Ltd, Gainsborough, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – This paper demonstrates that it is both possible and useful to measure the emotional
developmental stage of people with intellectual disability.
Design/methodology/approach – A tool was designed, based on a stage theory of development and
tested for reliability and validity.
Findings – The tool was found to be both reliable and valid.
Originality/value – This is new work with no predecessor.
Keywords Measurement, Emotional development
Paper type Research paper
After a long period of expecting behavioural approaches to solve all behavioural problems, there
is now a growing recognition that feelings and emotional trauma may underpin behavioural
disturbance (Royal College of Psychiatrist, 2004; Jahoda et al., 2001). There is, therefore,
a need for an assessment of emotional development that can define and inform therapeutic
interventions as well as measure change over time.
Behavioural assessments tend to be based on frequency and severity of behaviours labelled as
maladaptive for the individual, or the setting in which they live. The purpose of the assessment is
to identify the behaviour, the antecedents and consequences, then design an intervention to
eradicate or modify the behaviour. These behaviours can be very severe in nature, often
involving harm to self or others. Behaviours that are frequent and not too severe, e.g. persistent
touching, respond quite well to this sort of intervention. However, behaviours that are low
frequency but high intensity are less amenable because there are fewer opportunities to
intervene and the consequences of the behaviour could be severe. Individuals with the second
pattern may find themselves escalating through services to secure provision because of the
severity of what they do. However, usually without an appropriate intervention because of the
difficulties of implementing a reinforcement or reward schedule. Some cognitive behavioural
treatments are becoming more widely used with people with mild intellectual disability (ID) with
some success (Nicoll et al., 2013). However, there is still a complex group forwhom cognitive or
behavioural approaches have limited usefulness. They frequently find themselves stuck in the
secure system, usually because their behaviour is not understood. The emotional component
would appear to be the missing link in understanding the meaning of the behaviours and
possible intervention.
High-frequency – low-intensity behaviours, i.e. those that cause irritation rather than fear, lend
themselves better to behavioural interventions in segregated environments (Sturmey, 2008).
The ability to engage in such an intervention depends on the skill of the staff group and the
motivation of the service-user. It is notable that people who remain in residential services for long
periods usually exhibit these types of behaviours. They are still prevented, by their behaviour,
PAGE 272
j
ADVANCES IN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
j
VOL. 7 NO. 5 2013, pp. 272-276, CEmeraldGroup Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 DOI 10.1108/AMHID-06-2013-0045
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