Citation

Gedye A. J. Ment. Defic. Res. 1990; 34(2): 195-203.

Affiliation

Provincial Facility for Mentally Handicapped Adults, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, Blackwell Scientific Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2140418

Abstract

A 26-year-old profoundly mentally handicapped woman with Down's syndrome and severe self-injurious behaviour was treated by dietary means. Treatment consisted of regular institutional entrees, supplemented with serotonin-containing foods, and modified to ensure dietary sources of potassium each intake and low protein relative to carbohydrate. Dramatic benefit was evident the first day and, after 6 months self-hitting was still close to 90% lower than baseline rates. Relevant literature was discussed regarding why a serotonergic approach was chosen for reducing self-injury.

Language: en