Shifting impairment and aggression in intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder

E M Visser; H J C Berger; J B Prins; H M J Van Schrojenstein Lantman-De Valk; J P Teunisse

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2014.04.021

Shifting impairment and aggression in intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder

Res Dev Disabil. 2014 Sep;35(9):2137-47. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.04.021. Epub 2014 May 29.

Authors

E M Visser¹, H J C Berger¹, J B Prins¹, H M J Van Schrojenstein Lantman-De Valk², J P Teunisse³

Affiliations

¹ Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Department of Medical Psychology, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
² Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Department of Primary and Community Health Care, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
³ Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Department of Medical Psychology, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Centre for Autism, Department of Research & Development, P.O. Box 62, 6865 ZH Doorwerth, The Netherlands; HAN University of Applied Sciences, Research group Autism through the Lifespan, P.O. Box 6960, 6503 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 24881008
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.04.021

Abstract

Aggressive behaviour is a major problem in individuals with an intellectual disability (ID) as well as in individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There are indications that suggest a link between cognitive shifting and aggression. In this study, reports of aggressive incidents of adolescents and young adults with different clinical diagnoses (ID, ID+ASD, ASD) were collected during 1 year, using the Staff Observation Aggression Scale-Revised. Whether they were diagnosed with ID, ASD or both; individuals who displayed aggression were found to face more cognitive shifting difficulties than non-aggressive individuals, while no significant differences were found on severity of ASD symptoms. Study results support the assumption that a cognition-based model for aggression may be more adequate than a diagnose-based model.

Keywords: Aggression; Autism; Cognitive shifting; Intellectual disability.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aggression / psychology*
Attention*
Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / psychology*
Cognition Disorders / psychology*
Female
Humans
Intellectual Disability / psychology*
Male
Young Adult