Impact of creative workshops in an institutionalized patient with moderate/severe cognitive impairment with behavioral disorders: A case report.

One team ran cooking and movie workshops for a young learners man in a locked unit. He had severe intellectual disability, pica, and hit staff daily.

Staff held two 90-minute sessions each week for three months. They chopped veggies, watched short films, and talked about smells and colors.

The team counted pica and assault events before, during, and after the program. They also noted how often the man joined daily chores.

Pica dropped from 12 bites per week to 3. Assaults fell from 9 to 2. Both changes stayed for the next four weeks.

The man also wiped tables and folded towels more often—up from 1 task a day to 3. He smiled and hummed during the workshops.

Catania et al. (1974) got the same drop in aggression with DRO and timeout. Their study shows you can reach the goal faster if you pair fun tasks with clear rewards.

Mishra et al. (2024) used tokens and fines to cut problem behavior in a mental-health rehab. Both case studies prove one plan can work, but Bravo-Garrido adds creative tasks instead of points.

Nøttestad et al. (2003) found meds stayed high after adults moved out of big wards. The new data hint that workshops might lower the need for drugs, yet we need bigger trials to be sure.

You now have a low-cost option for adults who bite objects or hit. Ask the activity team to set up a simple cooking slot: peel potatoes, stir soup, then eat together. Track pica or hits for two weeks before and after. If numbers fall, keep the club going and slowly add harder recipes. No extra meds, no fancy tech—just heat, taste, and shared talk.