Excessive use of six obscene words by two adolescents in a resource classroom was reduced using social reinforcement of low rates of behavior and a response cost procedure. Both procedures were effective in reducing swearing in both students and produced short-term maintenance of effects. (Author/CL)

When the effectiveness and mortality-morbidity of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are compared with those of drug therapies, it appears that ECT is an effective and preferred treatment strategy. It remains underutilized as a modality of suicide prevention. Addresses controversies that presently limit the use of this treatment. (Author/ABB)

The article presents the position of the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders regarding replacing the term "seriously emotionally disturbed" with "behaviorally disordered." The rationale for such a change is outlined and concerns about it are answered. (CL)

Presents findings on relationship of childhood firestarting and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-III) diagnosis in representative sample of child psychiatric outpatients (N=204). Childhood firesetting and DSM-III diagnosis of conduct disorder were strongly related; they showed significant interaction with lessened…

An analysis of articles in the first 10 volumes of Behavioral Disorders indicated that a large number of articles addressed functioning of elementary aged students. Less widely described were preschool, autistic, or schizophrenic-like students. A consistently increasing linear trend was found in percentage of databased articles and of higher…

Results of a study involving five elementary behavior disordered students indicated that both silent reading of and listening to systematic previewed procedures were related to higher performance levels than when no previewing was provided. In addition, the listening procedure was differentially related to higher rates of words read correctly than…

Upon reading vignettes portraying a student's sibling as behavior disordered (BD), 64 special education teachers were asked to recommend placement for the student. Ss indicated that a BD placement was more appropriate for the student with a disturbed sibling than for an identically described student with a nonhandicapped sibling. (CL)

A problem-solving conference used in self-contained classes for behavior disordered high schoolers is intended to provide a structure for handling conflicts and disagreements. Conferences may be called by students or staff members and are designed to produce workable plans of action. The approach develops interdependence, trust, and…

Previous methods of classifying motives for firesetting into categories such as "revenge" and "excitement" have been criticized for their failure to reflect the heterogeneity of firesetting. In this study, 17 young firesetters were interviewed. In keeping with previous studies, six distinct groups emerged. Implications for…

Decreased serotonin function has consistently been shown to be highly correlated with impulsive aggression across a number of different experimental paradigms. Such lowered serotonergic indices appear to correlate with the dimension of aggression dyscontrol and/or impulsivity rather than with psychiatric diagnostic categories per se. Implications…

This commentary critiques two papers by Curt Sandman, pointing out interpretive problems in models explaining self-injurious behavior in terms of opioids. Withdrawal effects are emphasized as an alternative to hypotheses asserting congenital opioid excess as a cause of sensory depression or an addiction to a relative excess of opioid activity in…

This paper answers criticism (EC 601 030) of the authors' work regarding opioid explanations of self-injurious behavior. Possible withdrawal effects are ruled out as an explanation, in favor of opioid excess leading to sensory depression and addiction to relative excesses of opioid activity in the brain. Alternative models of consequences of…

Examined out-of-home care experience for 131 behaviorally impaired Nebraska children entering care during one year. Analyzed behavioral impairment, age at entry, age at termination, gender, race/ethnicity, family violence, geographical area before and at termination, closeness to home of most recent placement, and length of time in care.…

Examined relationship between visual organization, perceptual closure, and compulsive-like behaviors in 3- to 6-year-olds. Found that children's performance on visual organization and perceptual-closure tasks were significantly related to compulsive-like behaviors reported by parents, and these associations were mediated by mental age. Results…

Objective: Basal cortisol and cortisol stress responsivity are valuable biological characteristics of children with disruptive behavior disorder (DBD). In this study, the predictive value of cortisol to outcome of intervention was investigated. Method: Basal cortisol levels and cortisol levels under stress were studied in 22 children with DBD…