Psychopharmacology and Intellectual Disability: The Continuing Dilemmas of "Challenging Behaviour"

with a range of problem behaviours, particularly aggression and self injury, the "challenge" was accommodating these behaviours while providing a "normal" life in local communities (now often called social inclusion). Clinical investigations of persons with intellectual disabilities over the next several years [2,3] revealed that a number of mental disorders, medical problems and environmental factors contributed to "challenging behaviour". This complexity is reflected in [4] review of functional behavioural assessments. In conducting these assessments Tassé recognized the need for a comprehensive multi-method approach involving personal/social history, medical history and physical examination, evaluation of current medication including possible side effects or interaction effects, and psychiatric evaluation. In spite of the broadened scope for functional behavioural assessments, the main focus remains behavioural and the goal for intervention some form of behaviour management.