In the developed world alone an increasing number of people have a severe learning disability leading to challenging behaviour. This can encompass aggression, self-injury, destructiveness, hyperactivity, inappropriate sexual or social conduct and bizarre mannerisms, which adversely affects the health and safety of both the sufferer and the carer. In this thoroughly revised and updated new edition, Eric Emerson provides a comprehensive overview of the current findings about the nature, epidemiology, causes and treatment outcomes of challenging behaviour caused by learning disability. The material about motivational factors and the relationship between challenging behaviour and psychiatric disorder has been considerably expanded, and the book combines evidence and research drawn from the fields of psychology, psychiatry and medicine. It will be essential reading for clinicians and all health care professionals involved in the assessment and treatment of challenging behaviour.

‘In Challenging Behaviour Emerson carefully defines his terms, sets the problem in the social context, and demonstrates a systematic approach to the analysis and treatment of behavioural pathology in this little understood aspect of learning difficulties … and it has the great merit of being set against issues of quality of life.’

Source: British Medical Journal

‘This well-written book provides a wide overview of challenging behavior in mentally retarded people covering the current findings on the nature, epidemiology, causes and treatment … this is a good book and very essential reading for all health care professionals involved in the assessment and treatment of mentally retarded people.’

Source: Saudi Medical Journal