Two studies, involving 2 students (aged 11 to 12) with severe behavioral disorders, demonstrated that the use of cognitive behavior modification components, including self-instruction and self-monitoring, led to increased academic performance, and academic skill improvement led to a reduction in inappropriate classroom behaviors. (Author/JDD)

The article discusses the following conceptual models of depression, noting their related treatment approaches: (1) biological model (psychopharmacology); (2) behavioral model (behavior modification, social skills training, problem-solving skills); (3) cognitive model (cognitive therapy); (4) life stress model (focusing on environmental stresses…

The paper addresses the view that many of the secondary students suspended or excluded from school for disruptive behavior may be socially/emotionally handicapped. The legal and service delivery implications of this position are discussed within the context of current Australian special education policy. (DB)

In two studies, severe aggressive and self-injurious behaviors exhibited by two adult men with mental retardation were reduced through the implementation of functional communication training. Reductions came after years of less successful nonaversive and aversive interventions. Behavior changes were generalized across staff, new environments, and…

The article describes the Career Ladder Program for mildly handicapped high school seniors, providing supervised work experience programs based on principles from Re-Ed (Reeducation of Emotionally Disturbed Youth). Principles include team building, affective education, and interventions directed at reducing discord in the ecosystem rather than…

Seven brief clinical vignettes are presented, illustrating principles of intervention with parents of aggressive children. The vignettes describe family relationships; parents' feelings toward counselors, especially anger; counseling techniques; actions taken by counselors; and outcomes of treatment. (JDD)

The article reviews broad characteristics of levels systems, classroom structures consisting of four to six levels of behavioral, academic, and social expectations and the criteria for moving from one level to another. Three sample systems are presented along with step-by-step procedures for developing a levels system for behavior disordered…

Review of claims for the effectiveness of the gentle teaching philosophy with people having severe problem behaviors and mental retardation finds that the methods were unsuccessful with seven of nine individuals. Although more research is needed, the review suggests that gentle teaching cannot be considered an ethically defensible treatment…

This study examined the effectiveness of a Positive Talk curriculum in promoting specific conversational social skills of nine incarcerated female adolescent juvenile delinquents. Sequential application of a multiple baseline across groups design demonstrated that the training was successful in promoting the participants' social skills.…

Questionnaires completed by parents of 40 patients with Lesch-Nyhan disease provide information on developmental history, life course, management, medication, variability, and topography of self-injury. Analysis indicated that patients could not inhibit self-injury but could predict it and request restraints; self-injury was strongly related to…

This article describes various types of allergies, how they are diagnosed medically, and the different forms of medical treatment. It also considers how allergies may affect school learning and behavior, the connection between allergies and learning and behavioral disorders, the impact of allergy medications upon classroom performance, and various…

An adapted alternating treatments design was used to compare the effects of two interventions using different intertrial intervals on sight-word mastery rates among three elementary students with behavioral disorders and learning deficits. Results found both interventions to be equally effective in increasing sight-word reading accuracy.…

This article reviews aspects of normal affective development and the accompanying language of feelings, explains how children with behavioral and emotional problems diverge from normal patterns, and describes relevant intervention programs for early childhood and the primary and intermediate grades. (Author/JDD)

An identification and treatment model differentiating transient mutism from persistent selective mutism is proposed. The case study of a six-year-old girl is presented, who was treated with a multimodal approach combining behavioral techniques with play therapy and family involvement. At posttreatment and follow-up, she was talking in a manner…

A review of the literature and descriptive examples of peers implementing the "high probability request" (HPR) strategy for changing behavior in young children with behavior disorders are presented. HPR intervention involves delivering three to five high probability requests with positive reinforcement in rapid succession, followed by a…