On 12 Apr 2006 at 17:59, Tollefsrud, Linda wrote: > The field of autism treatment has progressed a great deal in the last > 30 years. I think you would hard-pressed to find anyone currently in > this area who uses or would advocate electric shock and/or strait > jackets.
Not entirely gone, but certainly diminished. Thomas Linscheid has for many years been developing a system he calls SIBIS (self-injurious behavior inhibiting system). It's a device worn by the self-injuring child which automatically administers an electric shock each time the child tries to injure him/herself (e.g. by self-slapping). Linscheid has published studies showing the effectiveness of the technique but it has nevertheless generated great controversy (i.e. opposition). It seems to me that the method is doomed, not because it doesn't work, but because of moral objections to its use. The most recent paper I can find by Linscheid on SIBIS is this one: Salvy, S., Mulick, J.A, Butter, E., Bartlett, R.K. & Linscheid, T.R. (2004) Contingent electric shock (SIBIS) and a conditioned punisher eliminate severe head banging in a preschool child. Behavioral Interventions, 19, 59-72. A bibliography of the use of electric shock in behavior modification is here: http://www.effectivetreatment.org/bibliography.htm and if you scan down to the bottom of the file, there's a separate listing for SIBIS (the link to jump there doesn't work for me). According to the website, SIBIS has been replaced by GED (gradual electronic decelerator). A very recent CNN report ("Shock therapy for kids", March 28, 2006) which describes it suggests it's SIBIS with a new name, and possibly improved hardware. Predictably, its use is controversial. See: http://edition.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog/2006/03/shock -therapy-for-kids.html or use: http://tinyurl.com/zpc5x Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Department of Psychology Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Dept web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy TIPS discussion list for psychology teachers at http://faculty.frostburg.edu/psyc/southerly/tips/index.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english
