Suppression of self-injurious behaviour: determining the least restrictive alternative.
In keeping with recent ethical and legal guidelines regarding the use of aversive treatment procedures, a number of alternatives for the treatment of self-injury have been suggested. The present study provides an example of the determination of the least restrictive but most effective treatment with a case of self-injury. Employing a combination of multiple baseline and reversal designs, the effects of DRO, overcorrection, lemon juice, and aromatic ammonia on the rate of self-poking in a profoundly retarded child were examined. DRO and overcorrection were both ineffective. Although lemon juice suppressed and stabilised the rate of poking, aromatic ammonia produced greater suppression. Implications for the testing of treatments for SIB are discussed.
D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*