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Query: UMLS:C0004352 (autism)
 32,579 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The usefulness of differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior was examined in the treatment of pica in a young man severely disabled by autism in a nonsheltered place of employment. The results indicated that a reduction in pica could be achieved by differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO). Behaviors which were reinforced included remaining in this assigned location, keeping his hands on his work, working quickly and keeping his mouth clear. Reinforcements included favorite drinks, snacks, activities and praise. Treatment procedures were implemented by direct care paraprofessional staff. Withdrawal of treatment resulted in an increase in pica, with renewed reduction on reinstatement of the reinforcement schedule.
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PMID:Treatment of pica in an adult disabled by autism by differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior. 366 57

Dietary intake was assessed in a sample population of 40 autistic and 34 control children with a 7-day diet record kept by the parent or primary caregiver. A questionnaire was completed by each participant to obtain descriptive data on nutrition and health issues, attitudes and beliefs about nutrition, and nutrition knowledge. The autistic children had significantly greater intake of all nutrients with the exception of vitamins A and C, and fat; overall adequacy of diets was similar for both groups. Parent/primary caregivers of autistic children reported a more positive belief in the relationship between diet and behavior, and a more positive attitude about the importance of nutrition. A higher incidence of food cravings, pica, and perceived eating problems were reported by the parent/caregivers of autistic children.
J Autism Dev Disord 1986 Jun
PMID:Perspectives on the nutritional ecology of autistic children. 372 15

Overcorrection and physical restraint procedures have been shown to be effective in controlling certain classes of maladaptive behavior in mentally retarded persons. In the present study, an alternating treatments design was used to measure the differential effects of overcorrection and physical restraint procedures in the treatment of pica. Changes in collateral behaviors were also monitored. Each occurrence of pica was followed by either an overcorrection procedure or a physical restraint procedure. Although both procedures reduced the occurrence of pica and had a similar effect on the occurrence of collateral behaviors, physical restraint was clinically more effective in terms of immediate response reduction.
J Autism Dev Disord 1984 Sep
PMID:Suppression of pica by overcorrection and physical restraint: a comparative analysis. 648 May 50

Three profoundly retarded adults were observed in an experimental daycare program when they were not wearing self-protective restraints and when they were wearing them to prevent pica and rectal digging. The noncontingently applied devices did eliminate the target behaviors, but they also decreased social interactions between the subjects and their caretakers. A camisole was found to be even more restrictive than a fencing mask.
J Autism Dev Disord 1980 Mar
PMID:Ecological assessment of self-protective devices in three profoundly retarded adults. 692 79

A hospital-based adult learning disabled population (n = 371) was screened for polydipsia with the help of a purpose-designed questionnaire. Polydipsia was defined as excessive drinking of more than 3 l of non-alcoholic fluid over a 24-h period. Altogether, 23 (6.2%) subjects were found to have polydipsia. The polydipsic group was compared with the whole hospital population on variables such as age and IQ distribution. A matched group of 23 individuals without a history of polydipsia was drawn from the same hospital population. The polydipsic and the matched group were compared using various biochemical and psychological measures. Thirty-five per cent of polydipsic patients, compared to 13% of the matched group, showed evidence of compensated hyponatraemia. This difference was not significant. There was no significant difference between the polydipsic and the matched group in the frequency of psychiatric illness, behavioural problems or autism. There also was no significant difference in the IQ levels of the polydipsic patients and the total hospital population. Polydipsia in this population is largely seen as part of an abnormal behavioural repertoire without any evidence of possible organic cause, except unidentified diabetes mellitus. Klein Levin syndrome and pica were represented in the polydipsic group, but not amongst the matched group.
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PMID:Polydipsia amongst adults with a learning disability in an institution. 794 88

A series of analyses was conducted to assess and treat the pica of cigarette butts by a young man with mental retardation and autism. First, we demonstrated that pica was maintained in a condition with no social consequences when the available cigarettes contained nicotine but not when the cigarettes contained herbs without nicotine. Second, a choice assessment (Fisher et al., 1992) confirmed that tobacco was preferred over the other components of the cigarette (e.g., paper, filter, etc.). Third, an analogue functional analysis (Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman & Richman, 1982/1994) demonstrated that cigarette pica was maintained independent of social consequences. Fourth, a treatment designed to interrupt the hypothesized response-reinforcer relationship reduced consumption of cigarettes to zero. Finally, because cigarette pica occurred primarily when the individual was alone or under minimal supervision, a procedure based on stimulus control was developed to improve the effectiveness of the intervention in these situations.
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PMID:Functional analysis and treatment of cigarette pica. 899 29

Children and adolescents with developmental disorders suffer from a wide range of psychopathology. However, there are no published studies examining this subject exclusively in this population using recent diagnostic criteria. The primary purpose of this paper is to report on the diagnosis encountered in a clinical setting using DSM-III-R. The medical records of all individuals assessed in a specialized program during a 1-year period were reviewed looking at their demographic features, diagnoses, and target behaviors. Our sample consisted of 233 subjects and contained significantly more boys than girls. The most common psychiatric diagnoses were oppositional defiant disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Pica, organic mental disorder NOS, and Autistic Disorder were more often encountered in individuals with low intellectual functioning. Depressive disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and developmental speech/language disorders were diagnosed more in high functioning subjects. The most common symptom was impulsivity. This retrospective study highlights the need for more rigorous examination of current diagnostic concepts and criteria in children and adolescents with developmental disorders. Prospective studies should be conducted with standardized instruments in clinics and community samples to provide more information on psychiatric disorders in this population.
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PMID:Psychopathology in children and adolescents with developmental disorders. 929 30

Food aversion was shown to be effective in the reduction of plastic pica by a 4-year-old boy with autism. The participant was suffering from digestive complications due to the ingestion of plastic from a variety of toys. The intervention was initially conducted in the child's preschool classroom during instructional periods and was systematically generalized to the entire preschool classroom, and eventually to both classrooms within the preschool and across 25 teachers. The success of the intervention in decreasing pica was enhanced by its achievement in not reducing interactions with toys, considering appropriate play skills were a target goal.
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PMID:Using food aversion to decrease severe pica by a child with autism. 1672 25

The objective of this study was to assess the levels of 39 toxic metals and essential minerals in hair samples of children with autism spectrum disorders and their mothers compared to controls. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was used to analyze the elemental content of the hair of children with autism spectrum disorders (n=51), a subset of their mothers (n=29), neurotypical children (n=40), and a subset of their mothers (n=25). All participants were recruited from Arizona. Iodine levels were 45% lower in the children with autism (p=0.005). Autistic children with pica had a 38% lower level of chromium (p=0.002). Autistic children with low muscle tone had very low levels of potassium (-66%, p=0.01) and high zinc (31%, p=0.01). The mothers of young children with autism had especially low levels of lithium (56% lower, p=0.005), and the young children (ages 3-6 yr) with autism also had low lithium (-30%, p=0.04). Low iodine levels are consistent with previous reports of abnormal thyroid function, which likely affected development of speech and cognitive skills. Low lithium in the mothers likely caused low levels of lithium in the young children, which could have affected their neurological and immunological development. Further investigations of iodine, lithium, and other elements are warranted.
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PMID:Analyses of toxic metals and essential minerals in the hair of Arizona children with autism and associated conditions, and their mothers. 1684 57

Pica is a eating disorder, of the eating behavior in childhood. It is defined as the persistent intake of non-nutritional substances for at least one month, in an inappropriate way from an evolutionary perspective, and provided that its practice is not culturally banned. Many animal species, including primates, have this behavior. Documented from antiquity, in most cases it has been considered a symptom of another related disorder rather than as independent condition. Its prevalence is unknown. It is mainly described in mentally disabled people, pregnant women, autism, mentally ill patients, children, and others. The ingestion of earth, ice, starch, ropes, wood, and other products has been observed, although some authors also include the obsessive and reiterative consumption of eatable substances. Geophagia is considered a cultural phenomenon, although sometimes may lead to disease, and an form of paleomedicine or paleonutrition. The etiology of pica is unknown and it has no markers. Sensitive, digestive, nutritional, psychological, and psychiatric factors have been implicated in its origin and maintenance. Although the morbimortality is unknown and difficult to study, we may highlight intoxications, parasitic diseases, and surgical abdomen with serious complications. Finally, as in other eating behavior disorders, the global management of this entity requires a coordinated intervention of different health care professionals.
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PMID:[Pica: the portrait of a little known clinical entity]. 1704 1


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