Using water mist to reduce self-injurious and stereotypic behavior.

A mist of water sprayed in the face was used as a punisher for stereotypic and self-injurious behaviors by a boy diagnosed as severely mentally retarded with autistic-like behaviors. The boy had a long history of mouthing and hand-biting behaviors. The latter behavior was evinced by noticeable scar tissue on the backs of his hands. The study took place in a self-contained public school classroom for autistic children and other children with severe communication disorders and functional mental retardation. An ABAB withdrawal design with no treatment probes demonstrated the rapid and dramatic suppressive effects that the response-contingent water mist had on the target behaviors. This procedure was taught to classroom personnel who were able to maintain the suppression with minimal interruption of educational programming for the subject or his peers. No adverse physical effects were observed nor did the child attempt to escape or struggle against the procedure. The results are discussed in relation to ethical considerations and the use of response-contingent aversive stimulation.