A comparison of DRO to movement suppression time-out and DRO with two self-injurious and aggressive mentally retarded adults.

Movement Suppression Time-Out is a recently developed variant of physical restraint which may have applicability for serious behavior problems of developmentally disabled persons. However, the current debate over aversives and the argument by some that positives alone are sufficient to treat all behavior problems requires study. Initial trials with reinforcement alone, compared to reinforcement and punishers are necessary to empirically establish the limits of various treatment methodologies. This study was designed to evaluate reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) and verbal reprimands and Movement Suppression Time-Out, DRO and verbal reprimands with two severely mentally retarded males, 35 and 39 years of age. Using a multiple baseline design, self-injury was studied across setting with one client and across self-injury and aggression with the second person. Improvements were only apparent when Movement Suppression Time-Out was paired with verbal reprimands and DRO. With one client effects were maintained at an 8 month follow-up. The implications of these findings are discussed.