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Biomedical subjects

D C Russo

Publications and source records attributed to D C Russo.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Behavior therapy techniques in treatment of exfoliative dermatitis.

We report here a case study in which behavior therapy techniques were used to treat the persistent and severe scratching of a patient with long-standing exfoliative dermatitis. A multiple-baseline clinical design across different body areas was used to evaluate the behavioral treatment program. This program consisted of (1) training the patient to monitor his scratching behavior and to use an incompatible response and distraction procedure contingent on the occurrence of scratching, and (2) differential attention by the therapist, so that the therapist's attention was contingent on intervals of nonscratching, and the therapist ignored the patient when he did scratch. The results indicated that the program was effective in almost completely eliminating scratching when a variety of therapists were and were not present. This suggests that the procedures used might easily be taught to the nursing staff.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

A behavior analysis approach to high-rate myoclonic seizures.

Epilepsy represents a serious medical and social problem. In the majority of cases, seizures are successfully managed by a variety of anticonvulsant medications, even though these drugs may potentiate significant physical and developmental side effects. A small group of studies to date have offered evidence that behavioral procedures can successfully manage some seizure disorders and are particularly desirable treatment choices when seizure disorders are intractable to drug management or when drug side effects are to be avoided. The present case adds to this small but growing group of studies in that it demonstrates the use of behavioral procedures in the analysis and treatment of high-rate myoclonic seizures. Seizures were evaluated on a hospital ward and in a controlled experimental setting. The data indicated a variable rate of seizures across days and activities and a reduction of seizure frequency in the controlled setting when time-out was made contingent on seizures. A program of contingent rest' was then applied on the hospital ward that demonstrated a reduction in myoclonic seizure frequency and the apparent prevention of several grand mal episodes. An observer calibration procedure showed high correspondence between behaviorally and physiologically recorded seizures. A discussion of issues in behavioral medicine research follows.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1978

A comparison of human and automated instruction of autistic children.

While it appears reasonable to assume that the autistic child might benefit from the development of programmed instruction and teaching machines to teach imitation, concepts, and receptive vocabulary skills, no systematic research to date has seriously investigated such possibilities. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of automated versus teacher-controlled instruction in the education of autistic children. Four autistic children, each with extreme deficits in language, social, and self-care behaviors, were trained on a matching-to-sample task under three different instructional situations within an intrasubject replication design and multiple baseline procedure. Analysis of the data showed the following results: (1) The teacher, manually operating the teaching machine, was able to teach and maintain the matching-to-sample task; (2) the same autistic children did not acquire or maintain the task when taught by the machine alone; and (3) the teacher alone (without the machine) was able to teach and maintain the task. The results suggest that automated instruction may, at least, serve as a valuable aid to teachers of autistic children. However, before machines can be used without the participation of a trained teacher, further research appears necessary. Several areas, including the role of motivation in automated instructional settings, the saliency and effectiveness of reinforcers, and the importance of controlling antecedent stimulus conditions and off-task behavior are discussed as areas of primary concern in the development of automated instruction for autistic children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Considerations in the analysis and treatment of dietary effects on behavior: a case study.

Scientific and public interest in the effects of diet of behavior disorders has recently increased. This paper argues that (1) the experimental analysis of behavior offers an effective scientific methodology for assessing the effects of dietary substances on behavior problems, and that (2) such analysis permits behavioral consequences to be considered as an alternative treatment to dietary control. A case study of a 9-year-old retarded boy with autistic behaviors is presented. Suspected dietary substances were demonstrated to be effective influences on the child's behavior, whereas a simple behavior modification program improved his problem behaviors. Also discussed are issues and problems which arise in research on dietary effects on behavior and in selection of effective and ethical treatments.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1977

Assessing and training teachers in the generalized use of behavior modification with autistic children.

This study investigated the feasibility of developing reliable, valid criteria for measuring and training the skills necessary to teach autistic children. The behaviors of 11 teachers and 12 autistic children were recorded in a series of different teaching situation. Teacher-training was initiated at different times for different teachers. The results showed: (1) it was possible to asses empirically whether a teacher was correctly using defined behavior-modification techniques; (2) generally, for any given session, systematic improvement in the child's behavior did not occur unless the teacher working in that session had been trained to use the techniques to a hight criterion; (3) all 11 teachers were rapidly trained to use these techniques; and (4) the teachers learned generalized skills effective with a variety of children and target behaviors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

A method for integrating an autistic child into a normal public-school classroom.

This study investigated the feasibility of using behavioral techniques to integrate an autistic child into a normal public-school class with one teacher and 20 to 30 normal children. The results showed: (1) that during treatment by a therapist in the classroom, the child's appropriate verbal and social behaviors increased, and autistic mannerisms decreased; and (2) training teachers in behavioral techniques was apparently sufficient to maintain the child's appropriate school behaviors throughout kindergarten and the first grade.

Autistic Disorder↗