Maladaptive behavior merits fair treatment: a response to Seltzer and Krauss.

Abstract

This response is a reaction to a study by Seltzer and Krauss (1984), in which dichotomous measurement of the behavior-problem variable gave rise to some potentially misleading implications about community-placement planning. Some difficulties in measuring this complex variable were reviewed and a more functional behavior assessment advocated. The problem of maladaptive behavior as an obstacle to deinstitutionalization has not yet been resolved.