Epidemiology of Challenging Behaviour

This paper describes the results of an epidemiological survey focused upon people with mental handicap who show behaviour problems. The survey was carried out in seven Health Districts in the North West. An operational definition of behaviour problems is constructed which is based on the use of specific resources, or the particular consequences of behaviour in terms of injury to self or others, destruction or damage to property, or severe social disruption. Rates of prevalence of individuals whose behaviour meets the definition are given across a range of locations, and for adults and children. Following this, information collected about each individual identified is used to restrict attention to people showing more severe problems. The variation in rates of prevalence across Districts is investigated, showing that there are higher rates in Districts which include cities. An age and location profile of the group of people showing more severe problems, in a hypothetical average District, demonstrates a likely increase in the numbers of young adults with challenging behaviour requiring community services, but also suggests that the total numbers of people involved in a given District will be sufficiently small to mean that individualised planning of services is entirely possible.