Managing Challenging Behaviour in an Adult With Learning Disabilities: The Use of Low Arousal Approach

McDonnell, Andrew; Reeves, Simon; Johnson, Amanda; Lane, Alan M.

doi:10.1017/s1352465898000174

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Difficulties in understanding the behavior of some people with ID, and the unpredictability of the behavior and a low capacity for social interaction have been reported as a significant source of staff strain (Buckhalt, 1990). It has also been reported that staff demands upon a resident often preceded incidents of violence (McDonnell, Reeves, Johnson, & Lane, 1998). The literature does not offer further information as no studies appear that examine how staff emotional reactions, experiences of strain, and burnout interact with personality variables and exposure to violence among staff working with people with ID.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personality Impact on Experiences of Strain Among Staff Exposed to Violence in Care of People With Intellectual Disabilities

Lundström

Graneheim

Eisemann³

et al. 2007

Policy Practice Intel Disabi

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Explored are the relationships among personality and emotional reactions, work‐related strain, and experiences of burnout among staff exposed vs. not exposed to violence when caring for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Questionnaires measuring personality, emotional reactions, strain and burnout, and exposure to violence were distributed to staff (n = 112) working in 22 group homes for people with ID aged 18 years and older in a community in northern Sweden. The results did not show evidence of a direct influence of personality variables on exposure to violence when working with people with ID and no direct relationships were found between exposure to violence and the staff members’ personality traits as measured with the Temperament and Character Inventory and Rosenberg’s Self‐Esteem Scale. Although the influence of personality traits on how the staff members experienced violence could not be clearly determined, the authors found an association between personality and strain and the risk of burnout in that certain staff exposed to violence felt more emotionally exhausted than did staff who were not exposed. The knowledge of the relationships among violence, personality, and risk of burnout may be important for the understanding which staff need special supports when working with people with ID.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Personality Impact on Experiences of Strain Among Staff Exposed to Violence in Care of People With Intellectual Disabilities

Lundström

Graneheim

Eisemann³

et al. 2007

Policy Practice Intel Disabi

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“…The Low Arousal Approach can create ‘internal conflicts’ among people who apply the approach. A typical conflict can involve the avoidance of punitive sanctions and consequences by using demand reduction, which can create a sense in some people that these approaches involve ‘giving in’ ( McDonnell et al, 1998 ). However, themes that have emerged in the current study appear to indicate that training in the low arousal approach has given families the tools to maintain equilibrium within their family unit.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Families’ experiences of the Low Arousal Approach: a qualitative study

McDonnell,

Page,

Bews-Pugh

et al. 2024

Front. Psychol.

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BackgroundParents and carers supporting a family member presenting with behaviors of concern experience heightened stress. The Low Arousal Approach is a crisis management strategy which recognizes that stress, or physiological arousal, can be expressed through behaviors of concern. This approach aims to equip parents and carers to manage behaviors in a person-centered and non-confrontational way. There is a paucity of published research exploring the experiences of families applying this approach.MethodsSeventeen parents who had received training in the Low Arousal Approach were interviewed to gain their perspectives on supporting their family members using this approach.ResultsThematic analysis revealed themes relating to parental stress, which was related to external pressures, isolation, family stress, and challenges in their caring role. They described encountering negative narratives relating to self-criticism and negative judgments from others. Training in the Low Arousal Approach was related to being empowered through access to evidence, increased confidence, and increased ability to advocate for their family member’s needs. Low Arousal was described as a “lifestyle” that enabled increased coping for the family unit as a whole.Discussion/conclusionFindings indicate that it is vitally important to recognize the views of parents and carers, and these are equally as important as the views of professionals. We must understand parents’ and carers’ needs in order to provide adequate support.

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“…BCATS uses behavioural management strategies based on the low arousal approach pioneered in Birmingham in the1990s by McDonnell et al (1998) and now taught through the Studio 3 group of companies. This approach was in use in the directorate before BCATS was initiated and may have significantly supported the transition from a traditional inpatient-based service to the new model, with its increased emphasis on outreach, as such an approach to managing behaviour is more easily transferable to community settings.…”

Section: The New Servicementioning

confidence: 99%

Service evaluation of an integrated assessment and treatment service for people with intellectual disability with behavioural and mental health problems

Richings

Cook

Roy

2011

J Intellect Disabil

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In response to rising local need and national drivers such as the Mansell Report, an isolated inpatient ward for people with an intellectual disability and additional mental health and behavioural problems was developed into a more flexible service integrating inpatient beds, day assessment, outreach and the local community learning disability teams. The functioning of the new service is evaluated on the basis of the way it was utilized in its first 2 years, and its outcomes, and compared with the pre-existing, more traditional inpatient ward. Although the new service model treated a higher number of people, it was more able to prevent or shorten inpatient admissions and to prevent placement breakdown and reduce aggressive incidents amongst inpatients during their stay. The integrated model described, whilst not being immune to the problem of delayed discharge, has in its first 2 years been a more effective, more flexible and safer service than the previous more traditional model.

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Managing Challenging Behaviour in an Adult With Learning Disabilities: The Use of Low Arousal Approach

Cited by 9 publications

References 10 publications

Personality Impact on Experiences of Strain Among Staff Exposed to Violence in Care of People With Intellectual Disabilities

Personality Impact on Experiences of Strain Among Staff Exposed to Violence in Care of People With Intellectual Disabilities

Families’ experiences of the Low Arousal Approach: a qualitative study

Service evaluation of an integrated assessment and treatment service for people with intellectual disability with behavioural and mental health problems

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