title: Behavioral treatment of self-injury, 1964 to 2000.
abstract: A quantitative analysis of behavioral research on the treatment of self-injurious behavior (SIB) over the past 35 years is provided. A literature search covering the period from 1964 to 2000 yielded 396 articles (706 participants) on the treatment of SIB. Most research participants have been male and diagnosed with severe/profound mental retardation. The use of reinforcement-based interventions has increased during the past decade, whereas the use of punishment-based interventions has decreased slightly; both of these trends coincide with the increase in the use of functional assessments. Most treatments have been highly effective in reducing SIB; nevertheless, the disorder persists in spite of an abundance of research, suggesting that a greater emphasis should be placed on prevention.
authors.affiliation: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Kahng@kennedykrieger.org
authors.forename: SungWoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kahng
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Adam B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lewin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*