Effects of low-intensity behavioral treatment for children with autism and mental retardation.
We retrospectively compared 2 groups of children receiving either behavioral treatment (n = 13) or eclectic treatment (n = 15) for an average of 12 hours per week. Children were assessed on intelligence, language, adaptive functioning and maladaptive behavior at pretreatment and 2 years into treatment. The groups did not differ significantly at pretreatment. After 2 years of treatment, the behavioral group made larger gains than the eclectic group in most areas. However, gains were more modest than those reported in previous studies with children receiving more intensive behavioral treatment, and it is questionable whether they were clinically significant.
Akershus University Hospital, Nordbyhagen, Norway. sigmund.eldevik@nordvoll.gs.oslo.no
Sigmund
S
Eldevik
Svein
S
Eikeseth
Erik
E
Jahr
Tristram
T
Smith
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires