title: Treatment with propranolol of severe self-injurious behavior in a blind, deaf, retarded adolescent.
abstract: Self-injurious behavior represents a significant barrier to behavioral interventions with retarded children. The etiology of this behavior is hypothesized as secondary to a state of overarousal. beta blockers are believed to be uniquely useful medications in having an effect on self-injurious behaviors through their ability to reduce arousal in the face of stimulation and demands. The case presented describes a multiply handicapped adolescent with severe self-injury who responded to 300 mg of propranolol with a gradual but steady reduction in self-injury over 12 months. Concurrent with this was the emergence of increased interactions and benefit from behavioral interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah Medical Center, Salt Lake City 84132.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Remington
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D001766:Blindness / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013881:Thioridazine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011433:Propranolol; D013881:Thioridazine