A BEHAVIORAL DIAGNOSTIC PARADIGM FOR INTEGRATING BEHAVIOR-ANALYTIC AND PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH A DUAL DIAGNOSIS

Aberrant behaviors exhibited by people with developmental disabilities have been well documented. Often, psychotropic medications, especiall y neuroleptics, have been used to control behaviors such as self-injur y, physical aggression, property destruction, and hyperactivity. Serio us side effects of these medications have occurred, resulting in litig ation and regulation of their use by courts, surveyors, and accreditin g bodies. Rules and regulations have been developed requiring that beh aviors/symptoms necessitating that medication usage be clearly delinea ted, that behavior programs be developed and implemented to reduce nee d, and that the interdisciplinary team approach be used to monitor eff ectiveness of interventions. Currently, little guidance exists on how behavioral and psychopharmacological interventions should be applied o r combined. This paper presents a paradigm for integrating behavior-an alytic and psychopharmacological treatment interventions in the treatm ent of persons with developmental disabilities that meets applicable s tandards. Our model is consistent with the least restrictive, yet effe ctive treatment philosophy. Implications for research and treatment ar e presented. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.