Distress behaviours What is it?

The term "distress behaviours" has been used to refer to the "difficult" or "problem" behaviours which may be shown by persons. Such behaviours include aggression (e.g., hitting, kicking, biting), destruction (e.g., ripping clothes, breaking windows, throwing objects), Self-injury (e.g., head banging, self-biting, skin picking), tantrums and many other behaviours (e.g. running away, eating inedible objects, rocking or other stereotyped movements). Characteristically, distress behaviours puts the safety of the person or others in some jeopardy or has a significant impact on the person's or other people's quality of life.

Functional Analysis.

A functional assessment of behaviour may

provide some answers, or at least some

theories, about the causes of an

individual’s behaviour.

A functional analysis aims to shed light on

the particular needs which a person gets

met through their behaviour.

Exercise

Reviewing my service

K something to keep on doing

I something to increase doing

S something to stop doing

S one thing that you would

suggest trying to do to improve

things.