[Applying a structured intervention to a high-functioning autistic adolescent].
The nurse-author describes her structured response to the aggressive and stereotypical behavior of a high-functioning autistic adolescent. Methods consisted of the therapeutic application of routines and scheduling, establishing clear expectations, using consequences in response to established rules, cooperating with a periodic autistic teacher, transferring the adolescent to a different junior high school, planning an individual curriculum, and providing emotional and active support to the client's mother. The intervention occurred between January and December, 2002. By the end of treatment, the client was no longer violent, his social interaction skills had improved, and he was attending his classes on a regular basis. Concurrently, his mother's anxiety levels had decreased. The nurse took on several functions normally associated with therapists during the nursing process in her attempt to effect change in the client's perceptions. The author discusses the effectiveness of creating a positive atmosphere and of extending her nursing roles and functions beyond the hospital to family and school settings.
Chang
Bi-Huang
BH
Department of Nursing, Taipei City Psychiatric Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. tree@mail.tcpc.gov.tw
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression; D001007:Anxiety; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009729:Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior