The role of personality in aggressive behaviour among individuals with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Aggressive behaviour is associated with certain personality traits in both the general population and among individuals with mental health problems, but little attention has been paid to the relationship between aggressive behaviour and personality among individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). The aim of this study was to circumscribe personality profiles associated with aggressive behaviour among individuals with ID. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study of 296 adults with mild or moderate ID, information on mental health, personality and aggressive behaviour was gathered through structured interviews with the ID participants and their case manager, and a review of client files. RESULTS: The results of the Reiss Profile were submitted to hierarchical cluster analysis method. Subsequently, the distribution of aggressive behaviour, sociodemographic characteristics and clinical characteristics across personality profiles was analysed. The analyses yielded seven distinct personality profiles in relation to patterns of aggressive behaviour: Pacifists, Socials, Confidents, Altruists, Conformists, Emotionals and Asocials. CONCLUSION: The identification of distinct personality profiles sheds light on the risk factors for aggressive behaviour, and suggests new approaches to improving diagnostic and intervention strategies.

[Measurements of the gravity of injuries in patients with head injuries by the AIS/90 manual and the CAIS/85 chart]. / A gravidade do trauma em vítimas de traumatismo crânio-encefálico avaliada pelo manual AIS/90 e mapas CAIS/85.

This study was developed in order to compare the use of the ABBREVIATED INJURY SCALE (AIS) and the CONDENSED ABBREVIATED INJURY SCALE (CAIS) as basis to calculate INJURY SEVERITY SCORE (ISS) in head injured patients. The results showed that the ISS value was equivalent in the majority of the patients (58.51%) codified by both scales. Also no statistic differences between the scales were perceived when we compared the severity levels as severe, moderate and minor, 61.38% of the lesions scored by AIS/90 were scored by CAIS/85, too.