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Considerations in the analysis and treatment of dietary effects on behavior: A case study

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Abstract

Scientific and public interest in the effects of diet on behavior disorders has recently increased. This paper argues that (1) the experimental analysis of behavior offers an effective scientific methodology for assessing the effects of dietary substances on behavior problems, and that (2) such analysis permits behavioral consequences to be considered as an alternative treatment to dietary control. A case study of a 9-year-old retarded boy with autistic behaviors is presented. Suspected dietary substances were demonstrated not to be effective influences on the child's behavior, whereas a simple behavior modification program improved his problem behaviors. Also discussed are issues and problems which arise in research on dietary effects on behavior and in selection of effective and ethical treatments.

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Reference notes

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA

    Bruce L. Bird, Dennis C. Russo & Michael F. Cataldo

  2. Department of Behavioral Psychology, The John F. Kennedy Institute, 707 North Broadway, 21205, Baltimore, Maryland

    Bruce L. Bird, Dennis C. Russo & Michael F. Cataldo

Authors
  1. Bruce L. Bird
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  2. Dennis C. Russo
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  3. Michael F. Cataldo
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Additional information

Preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by Grant #917 from the Maternal and Child Health Service, Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The authors express their gratitude to J. Ronald Walcher, MD, and Mark Batshaw, MD, for consulting on medical and biochemical issues, to Robert Ciulla and Sally Staehle for assistance in the study, and to Edith Stern for comments and help in preparing the manuscript.

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Bird, B.L., Russo, D.C. & Cataldo, M.F. Considerations in the analysis and treatment of dietary effects on behavior: A case study. J Autism Dev Disord 7, 373–382 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01540395

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