Mood Radar: a technical aid in monitoring upcoming challenging behavior. Discovering dependable predictors of upcoming challenging behaviour in people with a mental disability. Measuring physiology of clients and their caretakers in natural situations. Viewing Challenging behaviour from a bio-physiological transactional model.

Challenging behaviors (CB) are a serious problem in the daily care of people
with a mental or intellectual disability. Besides the negative effects of CB
for the individual displaying this behavior (e.g institutionalization,
medication use, restriction in behavior) the CB affects all people surrounding
them. The occurrence of challenging behaviour can be viewed from a
multi-component *bio physiological* model. Client, caretaker and environment
characteristics can be distinguished as interacting factors setting the stage
for challenging behaviors to occur. In this research we aim to identify
physiological signs within the clients and their caretakers that reliably
precede an outburst of challenging behaviors. What specific patterns in
physiology of client and caretaker can be found in the onset, ongoing and
ending of CB ? Can physiology patterns help in predict upcoming CB?

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the physiology of clients
with ID and their caretakers in naturalistic situations in relationship to the
occurrence of challenging behavior. The level of arousal in daily situations
will be objectively measured by measuring output from the autonomous nervous
system: heart rate variability and galvanic skin response. The aim of Mood
Radar is to find reliable physiological predictors for the occurrence of
challenging behaviour which can be translated into a simple non-technical
warning signal when the occurrence of challenging behaviour in the near future
is likely. This warning signal helps caretakers to direct focused attention to
this client and establish whether action is required to prevent escalation.

Mood radar is a explorative, observational study with an ideographic approach.

During the course of ten weeks, three times a week for three hours on end, a
client-caretaker couple will be followed with a video camera while wearing a
comfortable, easy to take on and of Q-sensor wristband and a Polar heart rate
chest band. Physical risks of wearing the devices used are negligible. Risks
can be seen in feelings of loss of privacy and physical integrity. Also
introducing an extra demand on the client can be seen as a factor contributing
to the occurrence of the challenging behaviour. By introducing a personalized
task analysis and extensive training on recognizing resistance it is tried to
minimalize these risks.
The study Mood radar will contribute to giving a voice to a population of
people that are known to have trouble making themselves heard and understood.
It will contribute to enhancing the ethnic quality of *imaginative
anticipation*. Contributing by introducing a new paradigm which gives
imagination a new impuls. This can help to find new ways to break out of
stagnated situations.