Brief functional analysis of challenging behaviour in LD and dementia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Can a brief functional analysis procedure ascribe function of challenging behaviour in individuals with a learning disability and dementia?
IRAS ID
158157
Contact name
Greta Brunskill
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Individuals with learning disabilities (also described as intellectual disabilities) are vulnerable to developing challenging behaviour, which is associated with negative outcomes in terms of well-being and quality of life (Emerson & Einfeld, 2011). Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) represents the leading, evidence based approach for the care and treatment of individuals who present with challenging behaviour. PBS is the focus of much current research (Gore et al., 2013), a national clinical guideline for challenging behaviour (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2013), and is recommended in all post Winterbourne View documents (Department of Health 2012, 2013, Royal College of Nursing, 2013). A key component of PBS is the need to understand the challenging behaviour an individual shows. PBS promotes the use of functional analysis (a specific approach to assessment) in a person centred way to reach this understanding.
Functional analysis seeks to understand the function(s), or maintaining variables, of challenging behaviour, to inform interventions. A range of methods, including descriptive (i.e. interviews, questionnaires), and experimental methods have been developed to serve this aim. Experimental functional analysis (EFA) is regarded as a superior approach to functional assessment as this can provide empirical evidence of behaviour function (Iwata & Dozier, 2008). EFA involves the manipulation of environmental variables within a controlled setting, and observation of the impact of these conditions on the challenging behaviour(s) of concern.
A brief experimental functional analysis (BFA) method which can be applied in a 90 minute session has been developed in the USA (Derby et al., 1992; Northup et al., 1991). This approach represents a more efficient and empirically sound approach in comparison to more commonly used descriptive methods, and has demonstrated positive outcomes in identifying the function(s) of problem behaviour in individuals with intellectual disabilities (Iwata & Dozier, 2008).
This project seeks to recruit a small sample to explore the utility of BFA in individuals with an intellectual disability and dementia who show challenging behaviour to determine whether this approach could be usefully applied in routine practice, which would be of benefit to service users, their carers and other stakeholders.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NE/0099
Date of REC Opinion
28 May 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion