Sequential analysis of the effects of naltrexone on the environmental mediation of self-injurious behavior.
Accumulated evidence shows that biology and the environment can mediate self-injurious behavior (SIB) in persons with mental retardation. Whether pharmacological treatment alters the environmental mediation of self-injury is unclear. Opioid antagonist effects on sequential dependencies for self-injury were studied in the context of experimental single-subject double-blind placebo-controlled designs. Direct observational data were collected for 4 adult subjects in real time on daily rate of SIB and staff interactions. Clinically significant reductions (i.e., > or = 33%) in SIB rate were observed for 3 of the 4 subjects. For all subjects, the magnitude of the sequential dependency between staff behavior and self-injury was significantly greater during treatment with naltrexone than during treatment with a placebo. Results are discussed in relation to behavioral mechanisms of action regulating medication effects for self-injury.
Symons
F J
FJ
Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, Minneapolis 55455, USA. symon007@umn.edu
Tapp
J
J
Wulfsberg
A
A
Sutton
K A
KA
Heeth
W L
WL
Bodfish
J W
JW
D000328:Adult; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D019956:Stereotypic Movement Disorder
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone