Maintenance of response suppression following overcorrection: A 10-year retrospective examination of eight cases

Questions pertaining to the long term maintenance of the suppression of the maladaptive behaviors of institutionalized residents were addressed. To do so, a retrospective analysis of the progress of eight subjects who had been successfully treated by overcorrection procedures ten years earlier was conducted via an exhaustive review of the clients' records, direct observations, and interviews with staff. The findings can be summarized as follows: 1) The maladaptive behaviors of the highest functioning individuals, i.e., those with expressive language, showed the longest term and best suppression. 2) The more time that passes, the less likely it is that the original successful program will be reinstated when the misbehavior reoccurs. 3) The suppression of certain maladaptive behaviors may be especially difficult to maintain. 4) Overcorrection programs appear to inhibit staff from maintaining them because of their complexity and inherent time and effort requirements. 5) Staff and the institution tend to return to the status quo after the expert leaves, especially when the treated clients are low functioning. A number of suggestions are offered on how to design programs to increase the likelihood that response suppression will be maintained in an institution.