Behavioral suppression of seriously disruptive behavior in psychotic and retarded patients: A review of punishment and its alternatives.

Reviews the use of punishment procedures to suppress seriously disruptive behavior. Although differential reinforcement of behaviors incompatible with disruptive behavior is attractive to many because it does not involve aversive procedures, it has shown mixed results and may be effective only when combined with other procedures. Contingent removal of reinforcement (timeout) has been found moderately effective for dealing with self-stimulation and aggression but is of more limited value in treating severe self-injury. Overcorrection also has a beneficial effect on a variety of serious management problems. It is suggested that although electric shock has been the focus of considerable debate, it may have value under certain conditions. Research on generalization, maintenance, and side effects of these procedures is reviewed, and ethical issues are examined. (188 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)