Here, we take a novel approach to this issue by using confirmatory factor analysis to elucidate the architecture of verbal aggression, physical aggression and inappropriate sexual behaviour using systematic records made across an eight-week observation period for a large sample (n = 301) of individuals with a range of brain injuries. This approach offers a powerful test of the architecture of these behavioural disturbances by testing the fit between observed behaviours and different theoretical models.
We chose models that reflected alternative theoretical perspectives based on generalized disinhibition (Model 1), a difference between aggression and inappropriate sexual behaviour (Model 2), or on the idea that verbal aggression, physical aggression and inappropriate sexual behaviour reflect broadly distinct but correlated clinical phenomena (Model 3). Model 3 provided the best fit to the data indicating that these behaviours can be viewed as distinct, but with substantial overlap.
These data are important both for developing models concerning the architecture of behaviour as well as for clinical management in individuals with brain injury.
Via: http://ht.ly/RXadM
By: James AI1, Böhnke JR2, Young AW3, Lewis GJ3.
- 1Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust, Leeds LS25 2HA, UK Department of Psychology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK andrewjames00@gmail.com.
- 2Mental Health and Addiction Research Group, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK.
- 3Department of Psychology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
