Current concepts in mental retardation.

Increased concern for the rights of the handicapped has led to changes in the philosophy of treatment for the mentally retarded. Normalization means that the retarded child has the right to live in an environment that most encourages normalized behavior. This concept is often in opposition to institutionalization. The doctrine of least restrictive alternative requires treatment strategies that minimize the degree of infringement on patients' rights without jeopardizing the likelihood of positive outcomes.