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The British Journal of Developmental Disabilities Vol. 47, Part 1, january 2001, No. 92, pp. 21-29 PHENYLALANINE RESTRICTED DIET TREATMENT OF THE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOURS OF A PERSON WITH MENTAL RETARDATION Eric Dion, Marie-Josée Prévost, Sylvie Carrière, Chantal Babin and Jacques Goisneau
Summary This single case study examines the efficacy of a phenylalanine restricted diet introduced to reduce the severe aggressive behaviours of a female patient with mental retardation secondary to an untreated phenylketonuria. This diet is well accepted and permits an adequate control of phenylalanine blood level. The frequency of severe aggressive behaviours, as indexed by the number of hours spent in seclusion, showed an important decrease following the introduction of the diet, which then permitted the complete withdrawal of medication. The phenylalanine restricted diet seems to be an efficient and relatively unrestrictive intervention to reduce aggressive behaviour in individuals affected by untreated phenylketonuria. The complementary contribution of re-education strategies is discussed.
Eric Dion, Ph.D. candidate *Marie-Josée Prévost, Ph.D. Sylvie Carrière, B.Sc. Chantal Babin, B.Sc. Jacques Goisneau, M.D. * For Correspondence |