title: Effect of naltrexone upon self-injurious behavior, learning and activity: a case study.
abstract: Naltrexone significantly attenuated self-injurious behavior in a 20-year-old mildly retarded autistic male patient. The patient was videotaped daily and behavior was evaluated with a time-sampling procedure. Behavioral ratings of SIB frequency, SIB severity, and activity were collected automatically with a computerized system. Learning and memory were tested on a weekly basis with a modification of a paired associate learning test (PALT). Treatment with naltrexone resulted in (a) attenuation of SIB in the unstructured setting and (b) improvements in learning and memory without influencing activity levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine.
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Hetrick
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Touchette
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Barron
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sandman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008831:Microcephaly / Q000150:complications; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009271:Naltrexone