The relationship of functional variables and psychopathology to aggressivebehavior in persons with severe and profound mental retardation

A number of hypotheses have emerged regarding the etiology of physical aggr ession in persons with mental retardation. Although a multicomponent model is appropriate, results of functional analysis-based studies have yielded p romising results in identifying instigating and maintaining factors of aggr ession. However, the relationship between functional variables and conditio ns such as psychiatric diagnosis to aggressive behavior has yet to be inves tigated in persons with mental retardation. We conducted a study examining the prevalence of environmental or physical factors in aggressive behavior in mentally retarded persons with and without psychiatric disturbance. One hundred and thirty-five individuals with mental retardation who exhibited p hysical aggression were assessed with the Questions About Behavior Function Scale (QABF) to identify environmental or physical contribution to aggress ive behavior. One or more behavioral functions were identified for 75% of t he participants. Additionally, of 66 of the participants scoring above the clinical cutoff on an assessment for dual diagnosis, 75% met criteria for a n environmental or physical function for aggression. No significant differe nces in number of participants with an identifiable function of aggression were found between the no dual diagnosis and dual diagnosis groups. Our fin dings underscore the importance of identifying functions underlying aggress ive behavior in persons with mental retardation, and the need to consider f unctional variables regardless of psychiatric condition in treatment planni ng efforts for such individuals.