What is normal behaviour in persons with developmental disabilities?
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-05-2015-0027 |
| Pages | 284-294 |
| Published date | 07 September 2015 |
| Date | 07 September 2015 |
| Author | Anton Dosen,Johan De Groef |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities |
What is normal behaviour in persons
with developmental disabilities?
Anton Dosen and Johan De Groef
Professor Anton Dosen is
based at University of
Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the
Netherlands.
Drs Johan De Groef is based at
European Association for
Mental Health in Intellectual
Disabilities, Belgium and VZW
Zonnelied, Roosdaal, Belgium.
Abstract
Purpose –Annoying and bothersome behaviours among persons with developmental disabilities (DD) is a
relatively frequent phenomenon. However, not all behaviour that is difficult to accept in its surroundings
should be seen as abnormal or problem behaviour (PB). Some of these behaviours may be an expression of
a person’s psychosocial needs and may be considered as adaptive and normal. The paper aims to discuss
these issues.
Design/methodology/approach –Authors attempt to discuss relevant issues in persons with DD which
have an impact on their behaviour, intending in this way to define criteria for a reliable differentiation between
normal and abnormal behaviour and psychiatric disorders.
Findings –Differentiating between normal and abnormal may be a difficult task for a professional treating
persons with DD because of the lack of adequate criteria for such differentiation. The problem becomes even
more complex when one attempts to differentiate between PB and psychiatric disorder. By approaching the
subject from a developmental perspective and by determining the level of the person’s emotional
development, insight in subjective person’s experiences was achieved. On the ground of a “good practice”
the authors made schemata outlining criteria for differentiation between these constructs.
Originality/value –The application of these schemata in the practice made it easier to establish appropriate
diagnoses and was favourable for the planning of adequate treatment and support of persons with DD and
mental health problems.
Keywords Developmental disability, Anthropopsychiatry, Developmental perspective, Differentiation,
Emotional development, Normal-abnormal behaviour
Paper type Conceptual paper
Introduction
The behavioursof people with developmentaldisability (DD), such as physical aggression,property
destruction, self-injury, pica and related agitated/disruptive episodes are defined as problem
behaviour (PB) by their social environments; criteria are the frequency of occurrence, the severity
(the potential for physical or psychological harm to the person or others or the degradation of
property),and the duration of these behaviours(Dosen et al., 2008). Over the last decadesthe term
Challenging Behaviour (CB) has become analternative definition for this phenomenon, referring to
culturally abnormal behaviour of such an intensity, frequency or duration that the physical safety
of the person or others is likely to be placed in serious jeopardy, or behaviour which is likely to
seriously limituse of, or results in the person beingdenied access to, ordinary community facilities
(Emerson, 1995).The consequence of such behaviour may be exposureof the person to aversive
or restrictive procedures, limitation of access to community services, reduction of the person’s
civil rights and possibly the restriction of a person’s freedom through hospitalization or
institutionalization. Persons with PB usually are given several psychotropic medications in a high
dosage.According to Deb (2012) personswith DD receive psychotropicdrugs in 25-45 per cent of
all cases.Approximately 30 per cent of thosereceiving medicationreceive it for their PB. In persons
with aggressivebehaviour psychotropicmedication is being prescribedin 90 per cent of the cases.
Received 31 May 2015
Revised 31 May 2015
Accepted 2 July 2015
PAG E 284
j
ADVANCESIN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
j
VOL. 9 NO. 5 2015, pp. 284-294, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 DOI 10.1108/AMHID-05-2015-0027
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