Psychological treatment of self-injury.
Behavioural treatment techniques were used for eliminating self-injurious behaviours of two mentally retarded patients. During treatment, each self-injurious response resulted in punishment followed by a timeout period and then differential reinforcement of other behaviours incompatible with self-injury. This procedure was effective in rapidly eliminating self-injury.
D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D011678:Punishment; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*