Preventive Management of Disturbed Behavior

Preventive management of disturbed behavior is more commonly known as prevention and management of aggressive behavior (PMAB). PMAB is a behavior management training system used by institutions, schools and treatment facilities to prepare staff members to handle patients or residents whose behavior is prone to become aggressive or a danger to themselves or others. PMAB training systems are generally certified by the state that regulates a child, youth or adult mental health care facility or program. Contact the state agency that licenses mental health facilities about PMAB training opportunities near you.

Principles

• PMAB training recognizes the basic human rights of mental health patients and seeks to develop the skills of direct-care staff members to not only prevent aggressive behavior, but also to protect the well-being of the individual. PMAB systems use the least restrictive or intrusive techniques to promote positive change and ensure the safety and security of both individual program participants and the staff members who care for them.

Elements

• There are three elements of PMAB training programs. The first is theoretical and addresses the task of understanding the current psychological theories that explain aggressive behavior. The second element of the training deals with techniques to help staff members effectively manage rising aggression and reduce escalation. The final element of PMAB training focuses on physical interventions that allow staff to control aggressive clients, defend themselves, and restrain clients who are out of control and threatening the safety of themselves and others.

Purpose

• PMAB training is designed to provide staff members with the skills needed to manage aggressive clients safely. This training is required in mental hospitals, mental health programs, group homes that work with clients who may become aggressive, neuropsychological programs, residential treatment centers and youth programs. Proper trainiing helps staff members identify behaviors that indicate that aggressive behavior is escalating and gives them techniques for preventing and managing that escalation. In addition, PMAB uses a variety of physical techniques borrowed from martial arts such as Aikido to safely control violent or aggressive people and prevent the client, staff members or bystanders from being hurt.