Medication and programming in controlling the behavior of mentally retarded individuals in community settings.

Behavioral outcomes of a behavioral-chemical intervention procedure on stereotypic and non-compliant behavior were evaluated. One group (n = 22) of community-based mentally retarded clients was initially on psychotropic medication (major tranquilizers). Their dosage was either increased, decreased, or kept the same following behavioral intervention. A second group (n = 19) was placed on psychotropic medication following behavioral intervention. A nonequivalent between-groups design was employed that permitted 36 outcome combinations involving Conditions X Subject X Group. The effects of behavioral intervention, the validity of drug-intervention decision rules, drug-intervention effects, and the validity of the behavioral-chemical intervention model were evaluated. Results indicated that the behavioral-chemical intervention produced expected and desirable behavioral change as well as reduced levels of psychotropic drug usage.