Case study: Initiating and maintaining a nonruminative response in an adult male who is profoundly retarded

Abstract

A 51-year-old male with profound retardation and an 11-year history of rumination was treated using a simple intervention that included shaping, time-out, and stimulus control. An A-B-A-B design was used to evaluate treatment. Results indicated that the mean rate of rumination decreased from an average of 16.1 times per day during baseline to less than once per day at the conclusion of treatment. The potential prosocial effects of eliminating rumination and the implications of using less aversive interventions for serious and potentially life-threatening disorders in individuals with developmental disabilities are discussed. Correspondence may be addressed to the first author at P.O. Drawer GE, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA by e-mail at TSWQRa. MsState.Edu., or by phone at (601)325-3815.The authors wish to thank Dr. Chris Skinner for his helpful comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. Our appreciation is also extended to the hospital staff who assisted in data collection and treatment implementation.