title: The effects of a weighted vest on aggressive and self-injurious behavior in a child with autism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Analyse the effects of a weighted vest on the aggressive and self-injurious behavior of a young boy with autism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of the weighted vest were examined during a functional analysis utilizing an ABAB design with an embedded multielement design, in which the participant wore a five pound weighted vest or no vest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results do not suggest the existence of a functional relationship between the use of a weighted vest and challenging behavior, as the weighted vest had no marked effect on levels of aggression and self-injurious behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weighted vests are a commonly implemented form of sensory integration therapy, frequently used as a treatment for disruptive behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder [Stephenson J, Carter M. The use of weighted vests with children with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities 2009;39:105-114]. However, the current findings support previous literature which states that the use of weighted vests does not appear to decrease challenging behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798-3701, USA. Tonya_Davis@baylor.edu
authors.forename: Tonya N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dacus
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.forename: Daelynn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Copeland
authors.forename: Jeffrey Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blenden
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scalzo
authors.forename: Staci
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Osborn
authors.forename: Kellsye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Krisann
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Christian
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D003020:Clothing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome