Ameliorating the Effects of Violent Behavior in a Mother With Brain Injury

Abstract

Following a brain injury, individuals often suffer a broad range of debilitating sequelae, including cognitive deficits, mood disorders, impulsivity, and poor anger management. In this study, amotherwho suffered a severe brain injury at the age of 10 exhibited frequent episodes of violent behavior following the injury and into adulthood. Child welfare authorities and family members were concerned about the safety of her two children. She was therefore referred for parent training to assist her inmanaging the problembehavior of her children. The authors employed errorless compliance training, a success-based, noncoercive parent training strategy, to teach the mother how to gain child cooperation without physical intervention. Although the mother required extensive support in implementing the strategy due to cognitive and emotional difficulties, she was able to effect substantial changes in the compliance of both children. Errorless compliance training appears well suited to parents with cognitive, emotional, and impulse-control difficulties who may be predisposed to maltreatment.