TY - JOUR
T1 - The treatment of severe self-injurious behavior by the systematic fading of restraints
T2 - Effects on self-injury, self-restraint, adaptive behavior, and behavioral correlates of affect
AU - Oliver, Chris
AU - Hall, Scott
AU - Hales, Jackie
AU - Murphy, Glynis
AU - Watts, Derek
PY - 1998/3/1
Y1 - 1998/3/1
N2 - Severe self-injurious behavior (SIB) in people with mental retardation is difficult to treat when dangerously frequent or intense responding rules out functional analysis and interventions that permit free responding. This situation is common when restrictive devices, such as straight arm splints, are used. In this study, the effects of introducing flexion into a straight- arm splint, on SIB, self-restraint, adaptive behavior, and behavioral correlates of affect were examined for three individuals with severe mental retardation. Using single-case design methodology, for two individuals self- injury was reduced to zero, while the overall level of restriction was also significantly reduced. From the observed behavioral correlates of affect, there was no evidence of an increase in negative affect with the introduction of the new splint and the fading procedure, but there was evidence of an increase in positive vocalizations. Engagement in activities and social contact were not affected by the introduction of the new splint. The reasons for a decrease in SIB with a corresponding decrease in restriction in the absence of any manipulation of contingencies for SIB are discussed, with particular reference to stimulus control.
AB - Severe self-injurious behavior (SIB) in people with mental retardation is difficult to treat when dangerously frequent or intense responding rules out functional analysis and interventions that permit free responding. This situation is common when restrictive devices, such as straight arm splints, are used. In this study, the effects of introducing flexion into a straight- arm splint, on SIB, self-restraint, adaptive behavior, and behavioral correlates of affect were examined for three individuals with severe mental retardation. Using single-case design methodology, for two individuals self- injury was reduced to zero, while the overall level of restriction was also significantly reduced. From the observed behavioral correlates of affect, there was no evidence of an increase in negative affect with the introduction of the new splint and the fading procedure, but there was evidence of an increase in positive vocalizations. Engagement in activities and social contact were not affected by the introduction of the new splint. The reasons for a decrease in SIB with a corresponding decrease in restriction in the absence of any manipulation of contingencies for SIB are discussed, with particular reference to stimulus control.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0031918149&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0891-4222(97)00048-6
DO - 10.1016/S0891-4222(97)00048-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 9547526
AN - SCOPUS:0031918149
SN - 0891-4222
VL - 19
SP - 143
EP - 165
JO - Research in Developmental Disabilities
JF - Research in Developmental Disabilities
IS - 2
ER -