Employing electric shock with autistic children. A review of the side effects - PubMed

Review

Employing electric shock with autistic children. A review of the side effects

K L Lichstein et al. J Autism Child Schizophr. 1976 Jun.

Abstract

The use of electric shock in a punishment paradigm has continued to be a highly controversial issue in the treatment of autistic children. While the experimental literature argues for the effectiveness of the procedure for reducing maladaptive behaviors, some clinicians and researchers have expressed fear of possible negative side effects. The reported side effects of contingent electric shock were reviewed in an attempt to evaluate the validity of these fears. The review indicated that the majority of reported side effects of shock were of a positive nature. These positive effects included response generalization, increases in social behavior, and positive emotional behavior. The few negative side effects reported included fear of the shock apparatus, negative emotional behavior, and increases in other maladaptive behavior. The implication of these findings for the use of the shock procedure are discussed in terms of correct usage of the shock, therapist reservations, and alternative procedures.

Similar articles

• A negative reaction to the use of electric shock with autistic children.

  Webster CD. Webster CD. J Autism Child Schizophr. 1977 Jun;7(2):199-204. doi: 10.1007/BF01537730. J Autism Child Schizophr. 1977. PMID: 577496 No abstract available.

• The generalization of newly acquired behaviors by parents and child across three different settings. A study of an autistic child.

  Wulbert M, Barach R, Perry M, Straughan J, Sulzbacher S, Turner K, Wiltz N. Wulbert M, et al. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1974 Jun;2(2):87-98. doi: 10.1007/BF00919092. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1974. PMID: 4430819 No abstract available.

• Reactions to "employing electric shock with autistic children".

  Akerley MS. Akerley MS. J Autism Child Schizophr. 1976 Sep;6(3):289-94. doi: 10.1007/BF01543469. J Autism Child Schizophr. 1976. PMID: 1036495 No abstract available.

• Behavior modification and the psychoses of childhood. A review.

  Leff R. Leff R. Psychol Bull. 1968 Jun;69(6):396-409. doi: 10.1037/h0020190. Psychol Bull. 1968. PMID: 4873058 Review. No abstract available.

• Training parents as behavior therapists: a review.

  Berkowitz BP, Graziano AM. Berkowitz BP, et al. Behav Res Ther. 1972 Nov;10(4):297-317. doi: 10.1016/0005-7967(72)90054-x. Behav Res Ther. 1972. PMID: 4564856 Review. No abstract available.

Cited by

• Reply to reader comments on "Employing electric shock with autistic children".

  Lichstein KL. Lichstein KL. J Autism Child Schizophr. 1977 Sep;7(3):303-6. doi: 10.1007/BF01539007. J Autism Child Schizophr. 1977. PMID: 578516 No abstract available.

• Neurodiversity and Autism Intervention: Reconciling Perspectives Through a Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention Framework.

  Schuck RK, Tagavi DM, Baiden KMP, Dwyer P, Williams ZJ, Osuna A, Ferguson EF, Jimenez Muñoz M, Poyser SK, Johnson JF, Vernon TW. Schuck RK, et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Oct;52(10):4625-4645. doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05316-x. Epub 2021 Oct 13. J Autism Dev Disord. 2022. PMID: 34643863 Free PMC article.

• Tensions Between Autistic Sociality, Communication, and Social Skills Research: Utilizing the Communication Bill of Rights to Support Autistic People.

  Camarata SM. Camarata SM. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2022 Nov 17;65(11):4351-4353. doi: 10.1044/2022_JSLHR-22-00525. Epub 2022 Oct 18. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2022. PMID: 36256579 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

• Clinical evaluation of the self-injurious behavior inhibiting system (SIBIS).

  Linscheid TR, Iwata BA, Ricketts RW, Williams DE, Griffin JC. Linscheid TR, et al. J Appl Behav Anal. 1990 Spring;23(1):53-78. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1990.23-53. J Appl Behav Anal. 1990. PMID: 2335486 Free PMC article.

• Overcorrection: A review and critical analysis.

  Miltenberger RG, Fuqua RW. Miltenberger RG, et al. Behav Anal. 1981 Fall;4(2):123-41. doi: 10.1007/BF03391860. Behav Anal. 1981. PMID: 22478545 Free PMC article.

References

Publication types

MeSH terms