Ecological assessment of self-protective devices in three profoundly retarded adults.

Three profoundly retarded adults were observed in an experimental daycare program when they were not wearing self-protective restraints and when they were wearing them to prevent pica and rectal digging. The noncontingently applied devices did eliminate the target behaviors, but they also decreased social interactions between the subjects and their caretakers. A camisole was found to be even more restrictive than a fencing mask.