Self-injurious behaviour: reviewing evidence for best practice

Abstract

This article brings together some of the research literature from the last 15 years concerning self-injurious behaviour (SIB) in people with learning disabilities. There is a focus on medical, biological and psychological research literature because of the important contribution these disciplines have made to the understanding of such behaviours. The article also explores contemporary evidence for the management of people with learning disabilities who present with SIB. The care and management of this group of people presents learning disability nurses with distinctively distressing challenges. Within the article definition, prevalence, topography, causation and evidence for best practice are outlined. The article concludes with a brief exploration of the role of the learning disability nurse in contributing to the health and wellbeing of this group of people.