Preliminary investigation into persons with severe behaviour disorders who are registered with the South Australian Department of Correctional Services (D.C.S.)

Criminology Research Council grant ; (14/87)

The results of this project strongly indicated that Behaviour Disorder is a disorder in its own right, resulting in chronically disruptive behaviour that is not appropriate for diagnosis and management in a psychiatric setting (other than where psychiatric disorder also exists) and is not likely to respond either to conventional therapies or to traditional correctional service rehabilitation. The strongest aetiological hypothesis offered is that Behaviour Disorder results from a deficit in social learning ability, with or without concomitant intellectual deficit. There is a pressing need for research into the early identification and treatment of Behaviour Disorder and for the funding of services geared to the particular problems presented by this group.