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Editorial
. 2023 Jun 6;46(2):339-348.
doi: 10.1007/s40614-023-00382-1. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Additional Comments on the Use of Contingent Electric Skin Shock

Wayne W Fisher  1   2   3 , Brian D Greer  1   2   3 , Daniel R Mitteer  1   2
Affiliations
Editorial

Additional Comments on the Use of Contingent Electric Skin Shock

Wayne W Fisher et al. Perspect Behav Sci. .

Abstract

Prior to the ABAI member vote to decide between two alternative position statements on contingent electric skin shock (CESS), the current authors helped draft a consensus statement supporting the abolition of CESS. In this commentary, we provide additional, supporting information for that consensus statement by (1) showing that the extant literature does not support the supposition that CESS is more efficacious than less-intrusive interventions; (2) providing data showing that implementing interventions that are less intrusive than CESS does not lead to overreliance on the use of physical or mechanical restraint to control destructive behavior; and (3) discussing the ethical and public relations issues that arise when behavior analysts use painful skin shock to reduce destructive behavior in persons with autism or intellectual disability.

Keywords: Autism; Contingent electric skin shock; Destructive behavior; Intellectual disability; Treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of InterestThe authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Restraint Use and Destructive Behavior at CSH–RUCARES. Note. Bar graph depicting the number of total restraint episodes (left) and destructive behavior (right) across all 13 patients admitted to the CSH–RUCARES Severe Behavior Program in 2022
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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