title: Self-injurious behavior: a state-wide prevalence survey of the extent and circumstances.
abstract: A state-wide prevalence survey was conducted to determine the extent and circumstances of self-injurious behavior (SIB) among institutionalized mentally retarded individuals with 13.6% of the population (1,352 individuals) identified as being self-injurious from the approximately 10,000 clients in Texas' 13 residential facilities serving the mentally retarded. It was found that: (a) 89.8% of the clients were severely and profoundly mentally retarded; (b) differential therapeutic treatment modalities may have occurred according to the sex of the client; (c) 58.4% of the clients engaged in more than one SIB response topography; (d) 57% of the clients emitted SIB at least once per day; (e) 55% of all clients were aggressive toward others, with a higher incidence of aggression, property destruction, and sleep disturbances among clients who received psychoactive medication; and (f) 33.1% of the clients were on formalized positive treatment programs and 6.8% of the clients were on formalized aversive programs. Discussion highlights the extent and circumstances to which SIB exists and the need to implement effective and appropriate programming.
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression; D001348:Aversive Therapy; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012737:Sex Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications; D013781:Texas
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs