This study examined the impact of treatment adherence and therapist competence on treatment outcome in a controlled trial of individual cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) for adolescent substance use and related behavior problems. Participants included 136 adolescents (62 CBT, 74 MDFT) assessed at intake,…

Published self-instructional techniques for stress/anger management for those with mental retardation and developmental disabilities are often impractical due to the demands of complex instructional sequencing and of applying the technique during distressing situations. The development and implementation of an adapted, self-instructional,…

Background: Distinct cognitive models and treatments have been developed for people without intellectual disability with a wide range of anxiety disorders. However, these have not been reported as applied to people with intellectual disabilities. In fact, much of the cognitive therapy literature for people with intellectual disabilities does not…

Seventy citations (1886-1980) on psychological and environmental treatment of asthma are reviewed. Information is analyzed for the following topics (sample subtopics in parentheses): assessment of asthma (self report, activity restriction, medical examination); behavior therapy (relaxation procedures, biofeedback, operant techniques); dynamic…

Literature on treatment approaches used with autistic children was reviewed and the effects of two treatment approaches, psychotherapy and behavior therapy, on three autistic children (10 to 15 years old) were investigated. Data from the literature was considered in light of the following questions: What are the aims or goals in treating autistic…

From a population of 20 children, the treatment group received six sessions of verbal self-instructions via modeling with response-cost contingent upon efforts during training, and controls received similar training without specific treatment. Two self-report measures and teacher and staff ratings of locus of conflict did not show treatment…

Evaluates therapeutic efficacy of Beck's cognitive treatment and Lewinsohn's behavioral treatment of depression. Results indicated the cognitive modification group was the most effective in alleviating depression as measured by self-report and objective clinical ratings. Cognitive modification resulted in significantly fewer depressive symptoms…

This paper discusses some arguments purporting to show that behavior therapy is an inherently limited, partial approach to mental disorder in human beings. Obvious limitations to scientific theories are also outlined. (Author)

Critical analysis is a legitimate aspect of scientific development. Examination of the limitations of behavioristic theory in its passage to therapeutic practice and the nonexplicit supplementary mechanisms inherent in the latter generates several such propositions, four are presented. (Author/CG)

Evaluated was the effectiveness of four treatment procedures in reducing self-injurious behaviors (handbiting and headstriking) of 22 nonverbal severely mentally retarded children, approximately 10 years old. Among results were that contingent restraint was more effective in reducing behavior below baseline levels than positive reinforcement,…

Discusses the purpose and applications of confrontation and describes a multi-stage technique used in an adolescent unit. Carefully outlines each of the six stages of the technique and reviews the predicted therapeutic effects for each stage. The model is intended to overcome adolescents' denial and teach them self-recognition skills. (RJM)

Three severely retarded individuals (ages 3, 6, and 18) who exhibited self-injurious behavior (SIB) were exposed to sensory-integrative therapy. Prior to treatment, a functional analysis baseline was conducted to identify the motivation features of the SIB. The SIB of all three subjects was reduced when behavior interventions were applied. (DB)

Handicapped students with behavioral problems that include aggression, self-abuse, or severe withdrawal are sometimes subjected to aversive reinforcement techniques. This article provides a brief overview of the attendant debate and research, followed by a comprehensive review of the legal rulings related to aversive therapy for handicapped…

Reviews treatment acceptability measures and practices that have been developed and used to assess the social validity of behavioral interventions. Develops and applies a comparative framework to provide a systematic critique of nine treatment acceptability measures. No one instrument was selected to be the most comprehensive and it is argued that…

This study evaluated the efficacy of 2 brief interventions for cannabis-dependent adults. A multisite randomized controlled trial compared cannabis use outcomes across 3 study conditions: (a) 2 sessions of motivational enhancement therapy (MET); (b) 9 sessions of multicomponent therapy that included MET, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and case…