title: A maintenance strategy for discontinuing aversive procedures: a 52-month follow-up of the treatment of aggression.
abstract: A strategy for systematically discontinuing aversive treatment components is illustrated with a 52-month follow-up of the treatment of severe aggression by an institutionalized, dually diagnosed deaf male. Phase 1 lasted 28 months and included: (a) contingent electric shock, (b) a high density positive reinforcement, (c) compliance training, (d) transfer of programmatic responsibility to others, and (e) a relaxation procedure. Phase 2 has lasted for 24 months and features (a) replacing shock with decreasing durations of nonexclusionary timeout and (b) naturally occurring reinforcers. Aggression has remained very low for over 4 years. The client is in an all day workshop, visits home frequently, and accompanies his parents on vacation. A social validity questionnaire revealed that he has become more sociable and less dangerous.
authors.affiliation: Department of Treatment Development, Anna Mental Health and Developmental Center, IL 62906.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Foxx
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Bittle
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Faw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001348:Aversive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology; D004597:Electroshock; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012064:Relaxation Therapy