The potential association between psychosis and violence to others has long been debated. Past research findings are mixed and appear to depend on numerous potential moderators. As such, the authors conducted a quantitative review (meta-analysis) of research on the association between psychosis and violence. A total of 885 effect sizes (odds ratios) were calculated or estimated from 204 studies on the basis of 166 independent data sets. The central tendency (median) of the effect sizes indicated that psychosis was significantly associated with a 49%-68% increase in the odds of violence. However, there was substantial dispersion among effect sizes. Moderation analyses indicated that the dispersion was attributable in part to methodological factors, such as study design (e.g., community vs. institutional samples), definition and measurement of psychosis (e.g., diagnostic vs. symptom-level measurement, type of symptom), and comparison group (e.g., psychosis compared with externalizing vs. internalizing vs. no mental disorder). The authors discuss these findings in light of potential causal models of the association between psychosis and violence, the role of psychosis in violence risk assessment and management, and recommendations for future research.

Psychosis as a risk factor for violence to others: a meta-analysis.

Atypical behaviors in children with autism and children with a history of language impairment.

https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7854&context=gradschool_disstheses

Questions about behavioral function (QABF): a behavioral checklist for functional assessment of aberrant behavior.

Background Likert-type scales are increasingly being used among people with intellectual disability (ID). These scales offer an efficient method for capturing a wide range of variance in self-reported attitudes and behaviours. This review is an attempt to evaluate the reliability and validity of Likert-type scales in people with ID.

Methods  Fifty-one studies reporting response rates, response bias, reliability and validity of Likert-type scales among adolescents and adults with ID were reviewed.

Results  Low response rates were found among adolescents and adults with moderate to profound ID, when pictorial representations of response alternatives were not employed, and for Likert-type scales with self-descriptive statements. Response bias was evident, particularly among adolescents and adults with moderate to profound ID. Likert-type scales have better reliability and validity among adolescents and adults with borderline IQ or mild ID. Pretests and clarifying questions increase reliability and validity.

Conclusions  Likert-type scales should include pictorial representations of response alternatives, a single set of one or two word response descriptors, clarifying questions, and pretests, and are best used with adolescents and adults with borderline IQ to mild ID.

A review of the reliability and validity of Likert-type scales for people with intellectual disability.

This research evaluated parent reports of sleep behaviors of four groups of children: those with Autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorders, those with General Mental Retardation alone, those attending Special Education classes (with no MR diagnosis), and a control group of similar aged children without a developmental diagnosis. Diagnostic classification and demographic information were determined through parent report, report of classroom registration, and the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (Gilliam, 1995). To evaluate sleeping behavior the study used a 28-item, five-factor scale (Behavioral Evaluation of Disorders of Sleep/BEDS; Schreck, 1997/1998) constructed from the diagnostic criteria for childhood sleep disorders found in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders: Diagnostic and Coding Manual (ICSD, American Sleep Disorders Association, 1990). Findings suggest that reports of parents with children with autistic characteristics exhibit expected quantities of sleep, but parent perception of their sleep difficulties and sleep quality is different for children with autism than for children in all other study groups.

Parental report of sleep problems in children with autism.

We assessed depression, anxiety, and relevant cognitions in persons with mental retardation by administering modified versions of the Reynolds Child Depression Scale, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, and the Cognitions Checklist to 46 persons with borderline to moderate mental retardation. Consistent with research with other groups, self-reports of depression and anxiety were highly correlated (r = .74) in these individuals, and cognitions were strong predictors of negative affect. Subscales measuring cognitions related to depression and anxiety were also highly related, limiting the "cognitive-specificity" hypothesis. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses offered mixed support for cognitive-specificity. We discuss the implications of these findings for the cognitive and affective assessment of persons with intellectual limitations.

Depression, anxiety, and relevant cognitions in persons with mental retardation.

The rating scale used to assess the motivators of maladaptive behaviors in persons with mental retardation was the Motivation Assessment Scale. In the current study, we validated the factor structure of the scale on a sample of 118 subjects with predominately severe or profound mental retardation. They exhibited deviant behaviors such as self-injurious and tantrum behavior, aggression, and passivity. The results of the factor analysis with varimax rotation validated the assumptions of the developers of the scale that the motivators could be grouped into sensory, escape, attention, and tangible reinforcers. These four subscales are easily interpretable and should continue to provide valuable information.

Factor structure of the Motivation Assessment Scale for persons with mental retardation.

The original factor structure of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist was cross-validated with an American sample of 470 persons with moderate to profound mental retardation, including nonambulatory individuals. The results of the factor analysis with varimax rotation essentially replicated previous findings, suggesting that the original five factors (Irritability, Lethargy, Stereotypic Behavior, Hyperactivity, and Inappropriate Speech) could be cross-validated by factor loadings of individual items. The original five scales continue to show high internal consistency. These factors are easily interpretable and should continue to provide valuable research and clinical information.

Cross-validation of the factor structure of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist for persons with mental retardation.

Aggression and psychopathology in persons with severe or profound mental retardation

Sleep patterns of 103 individuals with profound mental retardation were explored. Hours of sleep were counted from night monitoring sheets for 21 months for those individuals in continuous residence on one area of a large ICF/MR. Forty individuals (38.8%) were found to have short-sleep patterns. Comparison of short-sleep and nonshort-sleep groups revealed no predictive factors for short-sleep except blindness. Diagnosis of cerebral palsy and sodium valproate usage were predictive for nonshort-sleep. Pattern type of short-sleep nights were also determined. Younger individuals had more difficulty initiating sleep than awakening early. Short-sleep patterns may interfere with habilitation activities and community adjustment. Techniques for minimizing possible negative consequences of short-sleep were discussed.

Elson M. Bihm

Papers

Depression, anxiety, and relevant cognitions in persons with mental retardation.

Factor structure of the Motivation Assessment Scale for persons with mental retardation.

Cross-validation of the factor structure of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist for persons with mental retardation.

Aggression and psychopathology in persons with severe or profound mental retardation

Incidence of short-sleep patterns in institutionalized individuals with profound mental retardation.