ANOXIC ENCEPHALOPATHY - A NEUROBEHAVIORAL STUDY IN REHABILITATION

This study examined an operational conditioning paradigm designed to t rain procedural learning channels in a patient with anoxic encephalopa thy. Prior to treatment the patient had been incontinent to bowel and bladder incontinent, minimally participant in daily activities and agg ressive toward staff and residents for two years. Previous rehabilitat ion attempts had been unsuccessful in changing these behaviours. Based on the literature, it was hypothesized that through operant condition ing the patient could be trained on three behaviours: 1) bowel and bla dder continence 2) activity level and 3) level of aggression. Results indicated that at a 4 month interval following the initial training, t he patient had improved in all areas of functioning.