Managing Challenging Behaviours in Mental Illness: Assessment, Prevention and Management

Running head: MANAGING CHALLENGING BEHAVIOURS
MANAGING CHALLENGING BEHAVIOURS
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MANAGING CHALLENGING BEHAVIOURS
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The study will elaborate the assessment, prevention and management of aggressive
behavior among the individual suffering from mental illness. The patient with mental illness
often exhibit some severe behavioral changes that might result in adverse health complications.
The different risk factors are also exhibited in the study that is responsible for the onset of
aggressive behavior among the mentally ill patient (Duxbury & Whittington, 2005). The
individual with mental illness and aggressive behavior experience huge emotional and
psychological distress and also go through various negative thoughts in their life that is
responsible for further deteriorating their health condition. De-escalation of physical restrain and
cognitive behavioral therapy are the best practice approaches for managing the patient suffering
from mental illness (Cowin et al., 2003). Patient-centered communication and medication
management will be used by the nurse to manage and reduce the complexity of the mental illness
in the patient. Physical harm, aggressive behavior and lack of communication are the few
barriers that will inhibit the nurse to properly manage the patient (Kontio et al., 2014).
The individual suffering from mental illness exhibit few challenging behaviors like
aggression or anxiety. Aggression is considered as the significant clinical issue for the individual
suffering from mental illness and is also used by psychiatrist to identify that the individual is
suffering from any severe mental illness (Kunimatsu & Marsee, 2012). Based on the survey
conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, approximately 3.9 million of
Australian population have exhibited the condition of mental illness associated with the
behavioral changes. The prevalence of mental illness among the Australian population is
increasing day by day and it is estimated that every 1 in 5 individual are under the risk of
obtaining mental illness that is associated with behavioral change. The behavioral change tend to

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have more severe negative consequence on the individual suffering from mental illness (Cutcliffe
& Riahi, 2013). The aggressive behavior is largely exhibited by the individual suffering from
mental illness which can lead to different emotional or physical harm to the patient. The rate of
mental illness is very prevalent for the adult age group that can arise due to various risk factors.
The patient cam exhibit any type of aggressive behavior depending on the severity of the mental
illness that includes reactive-expressive aggression, reactive-inexpressive aggression and
proactive-relationship aggression (Bowers, 2003).
The individual suffering from any mental illness might exhibit severe aggressive
behavior that can be caused due to the existence of different comorbid substance exploitation or
past family history of aggression. Some people exhibit the condition of aggressive behavior due
to the presence of any mental illness associated with other risk factors. The past history of non-
compliant with the treatment that can be the major risk factor that might enhance the aggressive
behavior of the patient (Sutton et al., 2013). The inadequate access to the treatment facilities or
exposure towards stress can also result in escalated mental illness with severe behavioral
changes. The condition of aggressive behavior or behavioral change is exhibited largely by the
individual suffering from mental illness and also have a past medical history of trauma. The
individual suffering from mental illness can be due to any specific circumstances and it is very
important to note the pattern of aggression in order to identify the risk factors that is accountable
for the bad mental health condition of the individual (Citrome & Volavka, 2011). The other
associated risk factors can be a past history of substance abuse, criminal records or history,
personality disorder, unemployment, relationship loss and self-injury.
The individual suffering mental illness often exhibit either minimum behavioral change
or exhibit severe behavioural change that can be due to various factors. The individual often