BEHAVIOR THERAPY 11, 588--593 (1980) BRIEF REPORTS Behavioral Treatment of Obesity in Prader-Willi Syndrome TRAVIS THOMPSON Universtty of Mmnesota STEVEN KODLUBOY Ramsey County Welfare Department LEONARD HESTON University of Minnesota The effectiveness of social isolation, aversion-relief treatment, one-to-one mon- itonng with point earning and point loss contingencies, and no-programmed con- tingencies were compared in treating a 22-year-old mildly retarded woman with Prader-Wllli Syndrome for obesity. While the patient lost some weight during contingent social isolation and aversion therapy, her weight increased rapidly on discontinuing these procedures. The patient lost 44 lb. over 5 months of l" 1 monitoring with immediate point-gain and point-loss contingencies and dropped 8 more pounds over 3 succeeding months in a less rigorously controlled setting. Prader, Labhart, and Willi (1956) described a syndrome of obesity, short stature, mental retardation, and hypotonia during the neonatal pe- riod. The syndrome was originally noted by Langdon Down (1887) who called it polysarcia and distinguished it from Mongolism (Down's Syn- drome). Although the condition is relatively rare, well over 100 cases have been reported in the clinical literature (Dunn, 1968; Hall & Smith, 1972). Nearly 100% of reported cases develop uncontrollable polyphagia, characterized by continued eating as long as food is present (i.e., total This case was originally treated in the spring and summer of 1976. The cooperation of Clara Doerr Residence, Inc., the Minneapolis Rehabilitation Center, and the Minnesota Department of Public Welfare in supporting this program is gratefully acknowledged. Re- quests for reprints should be sent to Travis Thompson, Department of Psychology, EUiott Hall, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455. 588 0(105-7894/80/0588-059351 00/0 Copyright 1980 by Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy All rightsof reproduction m any form reserved