Effects of phenobarbitol on aggressive behaviors in a program of required relaxation: A case study

Abstract

AbstractA naturally occurring experiment of the effects of two dosage levels of phenobarbitol on aggressive behaviors in a program of required relaxation is described. A required relaxation program was initiated as a consequence for throwing and hitting by a 13‐year‐old developmentally disabled male resident of an institutional cottage. The resident had been receiving 50 mg of phenobarbitol twice per day to control seizure activity for two years prior to the introduction of this program. Aggressive behavior decreased from an average of 7.2 incidents a day during baseline to 1.7 per day after six weeks of the required relaxation program. Following several reported seizures, medical staff increased phenobarbitol dosage to 100 mg twice per day and hitting behavior increased beyond baseline levels. After five weeks at this dosage, medication was returned to 50 mg twice a day and hitting behavior returned quickly to the lower intervention levels, while seizure activity remained stable. All observations of behavior were collected during unstructured and regularly occurring events of the individual's daily life. These data suggested that changes in medication influenced observed changes in behavior.