Millichamp, Catherine Jane2021-10-292021-10-291983https://hdl.handle.net/10092/102793http://dx.doi.org/10.26021/11927Many institutionalized mentally retarded persons currently receive maintenance medication for behavior problems. Prolonged use of certain antipsychotic medication can produce adverse side-effects. A double­ blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to assess the effects of intermittent drug therapy. Six profoundly retarded males all of whom had received maintenance antipsychotic medication for more than three years, participated in the study. Formal observations were made across a broad spectrum of subject behaviors during baseline and four subsequent phases of reduced drug dosage. A multiple baseline across subjects design was utilized for this eight-month investigation. No clinically significant effects were found when baseline and subsequent phases were compared. The results suggested that maintenance medication of institutionalized profoundly retarded residents may be reduced substantially without concomitant changes in overall drug effects.enAll Rights ReservedMental retardation--ChemotherapyPeople with mental disabilities--CareTheses / Dissertations