A behavioral approach to the treatment of nonretentive nocturnal encopresis in an adult with severe learning disabilities.
Encopresis is widely assumed to be "normal" among individuals who are learning disabled. Yet, reports on its prevalence, etiology and treatment are rare and mainly confined to secondary encopresis or to populations with milder learning disabilities. The behavioral treatment of a life-long nonretentive, nocturnal encopresis is described for a young adult with severe learning and physical disabilities living at home. Treatment involved waking prior to soiling, time-limited use of suppositories and rewards for appropriate evacuation. Soiling decreased to zero over 20 weeks. Time of waking was then gradually "shaped" back to normal.
Newcastle Psychology Agency, Newcastle City Health NHS Trust, U.K.
L J
LJ
Smith
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D004688:Encopresis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*