Assessed the effectiveness of a combined program of very low calorie diet and behavior therapy in treating obesity. Combined treatment and behavior therapy alone subjects maintained weight losses; none of the diet alone subjects met the criterion used to define maintenance. Only those receiving behavior therapy alone and combined treatment showed…

Outlines a treatment approach integrating behavioral and marital interventions for working with agoraphobics and their partners. Where interactions arouse anxiety, agoraphobes and significant others become embroiled in a circular transaction which causes mutual resentment and entrenched symptomatology. Suggests a method to help develop a…

Analysis of the psychotic speech of a nine-year-old autistic boy suggested that psychotic speech (intelligible but out of context phrases) was maintained through escape from task demands and that teaching an appropriate equivalent phrase ("Help me") reduced the frequency of psychotic speech. (Author/DB)

The proliferation of community-based health education programs has outpaced the knowledge base of behavior change strategies that are appropriate for public health interventions. This article discusses eight essential aspects of the social marketing process. (JOW)

Results of a study of 47 smoking and 29 alcohol school-based programs indicate that smoking and alcohol interventions have modest effects on immediate behavioral outcomes. Smoking interventions have been more successful than alcohol interventions at altering students' long-term behavior. (JOW)

Provides detailed information on anxiety management training, a relaxation-based, self-control therapy for the treatment of generalized anxiety, phobias, anger, and other stress-related disorders. Describes in detail the specific procedures of anxiety management training, summarizes research findings, and outlines means for deciding on proper use…

A review of the literature on the use of the self-efficacy model for weight control raised several areas of concern, including differences between losing weight and maintaining weight loss, ethical questions, and misguided interpretations of the model's effectiveness. The need for comprehensive, well-planned research is stressed. (CB)

Administered intravenous infusions to phobic patients prior to systematic desensitization. Saline-infused subjects significantly demonstrated the predicted symptom decrease in response to systematic desensitization, whereas naloxone-infused subjects showed no change. Subject reports and psychophysiological measures of arousal indicated no…

Compared the effectiveness of live versus videotape delivery of a behavioral treatment package for enuresis. Outcome was superior for the live delivery. Pretreatment measures of family and child psychosocial adjustment failed to predict treatment response. Film delivery resulted in higher confidence in children of their parents, but lower…

Used modified differential reinforcement of other behavior schedule with exclusionary time-out procedure to treat 69-year-old aggressive male patient. Results showed clear demonstration of behavioral control and clinically significant treatment effects during experimental periods. (Author/NB)

Describes three types of theories of crime and delinquency. Notes why arrest, juvenile justice, and probation do not seem to work. Describes delinquent behaviors which are maintained by consequents. Discusses resistance and noncompliance as behaviors to be specified, analyzed, and addressed directly. (Author/LHW)

Reviews probation training programs and probation contracting, the application of social learning to this field. Probation and the social learning approach are compatible: both stress intervention and prevention of further problems directly in the natural environment by natural mediators. (Author/LHW)

Moderately obese volunteers were randomly assigned to two treatment conditions (behavior therapy or behavior therapy plus aerobic exercise) and two posttreatment conditions (no further contact or a multicomponent maintenance program). Clients in the aerobic exercise condition lost significantly more weight than those who received behavior therapy…

Behavioral procedures were used to modify the food choices of eight preschoolers (ages 3 to 6) during a snack period at school (training setting) and at home (generalization setting). Results showed an increase in healthy snack choices in the training setting. Generalization to home was achieved only with specific implementation procedures.…

Ten hospitalized autistic children (ages 3-5) received individually regulated dosages of fenfluramine. Decreases of aggressiveness, temper tantrums, hyperactivity, and insomnia were observed at therapeutic doses. Major untoward effects included drowsiness and lethargy. Flexible rather than fixed dosages were recommended since the range of optimal…