This article overviews the characteristics of children and youth with Tourette syndrome and provides suggestions that can be used in the school setting for addressing academic concerns, social-emotional concerns, and physical concerns. Teachers are urged to break down assignments, allow computer use to complete work, and give preferential seating.…

Individualized trans-situational interventions (TSIs) were implemented with three middle-school students at risk for school failure. Problem behaviors in school were reduced and linked to problem behavior reduction in the home when concurrent behavior support was established in the home and at school. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

The atypical antipsychotic medication risperidone was evaluated using a double-blind, placebo-controlled design to treat destructive behavior in two males (ages 6 and 24) with autism. Destructive behavior during the demand condition was significantly reduced during the medication phases, whereas it continued to occur to obtain tangible items and…

Two major advances in the provision of behavioral support to students with severe disabilities include: (1) procedures for conducting functional assessment, and (2) design of comprehensive interventions. The research foundation for these advances, implications for clinicians, and future research directions are presented. (Author/DB)

A 42-item structured observation instrument was devised to rate the family friendliness of the Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) meetings in Virginia for children with emotional and behavioral disorders. Seventy-nine case presentations at 31 FAPT meetings were observed and overall rating of family friendliness was good (63%). (Author/CR)

Describes a process, wraparound planning, for extending educational services to students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) and their families. A merger of community and school-based wraparound is being implemented in pilot school districts in Illinois. Guidelines for implementing school-based wraparound for students with EBD are…

This article explores common, recurrent themes in the development of our understanding of approaches to emotional and behavioral disorders. It identifies the following eternal verities: behavior can change, intervention is second to prevention, instructional reactions, transparency in communications, empathy and equity, boundaries and challenges,…

Findings from 26 former pupils of a residential school for boys (ages 7-19) with emotional/behavioral disorders indicate that, despite some concerns, the former pupils have very positive memories of the school and felt that it had helped them to overcome their learning and behavioral difficulties. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

A study compared 216 adolescent sexually victimized sexual offenders and 93 adolescent sexually victimized nonsexual offending delinquents. Sexually offending delinquents had closer relationships with their perpetrators, a higher chance of having a male perpetrator, a longer duration of sexual victimization, more forceful sexual victimization, and…

The teacher version of the Child Symptom Inventory-4 (CSI-4T) investigated prevalence of DSM-IV symptoms in 852 boys (ages 6-12) with emotional/behavioral disorders refereed for psychiatric consultation, in special education, referred to an outpatient clinic, or in regular education. Symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and…

A study examined the effects of pullout small-group and teacher-directed classroom-based social skills instruction on antisocial behaviors of five third- and fourth-grade students at risk for emotional or behavioral disorders. Results indicated moderate reduction in antisocial behaviors during small-group social skills instruction. (Contains…

A study evaluated a comprehensive school-wide program based on an effective behavioral support approach for preventing disruptive behaviors implemented in seven elementary schools. The program included a school-wide discipline program, tutoring, conflict resolution, and functional behavioral intervention plans. Schools showed positive effects on…

A theoretically and empirically based intervention, Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD), for students who struggle with academic tasks is described. The instructional implications and evaluation of performance for one student with learning and behavioral difficulties highlights the usefulness of this instructional approach. Six individual…

The study examined perceptions, knowledge, and opinions regarding medication of 146 teachers of students with serious emotional disturbances. Among findings were that global impressions were most often used to evaluate drug effects and that hyperactivity and delusions/hallucinations were most likely to lead to medication. (DB)

This study found that behaviorally disordered adolescents (n=183) in six special schools perceived lower order and organization and higher teacher control than did normal students in traditional classes. Student satisfaction with school was related to greater levels of perceived involvement, affiliation, and teacher support for the special…