Characterizing Automatically Maintained Self-Injury With the Aberrant Behavior Checklist.

Multidimensional variables linked to repetitive behavior, hyperactivity, and mood dysregulation are correlated with the prevalence and severity of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine differences in Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) subscales between individuals with socially maintained SIB and automatically maintained SIB (ASIB). Overall, there were not significant differences in ABC subscale elevations between the SIB and ASIB groups.

Severe behavior problems in SYNGAP1-related disorder: A summary of 11 consecutive patients in a tertiary care specialty clinic.

SYNGAP1-related disorder (SYNGAP1-RD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is commonly associated with epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and disruptive behaviors. In this study, behavior problems in 11 consecutive patients with SYNGAP1-RD are described and quantified based on a behavioral screening conducted within the context of a multi-disciplinary tertiary care specialty clinic visit. The behavioral phenotype was then compared to published samples of behavior problems in ASD and other genetic cause of epilepsy occurring in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders using results from the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (ABC-C), an empirically derived outcome measure.

A Neurobehavioral Continuum of Care for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities with Severe Problem Behavior.

The Neurobehavioral Programs at Kennedy Krieger Institute constitute a comprehensive continuum of care designed to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with co-occurring problem behavior. This continuum includes inpatient, intensive outpatient, outpatient, consultation, and follow-up services. The mission of these programs is to fully integrate patient care, research, training, and advocacy to achieve the best possible outcomes with patients, and to benefit the broader community of individuals with severe behavioral dysfunction.

Quantifying increases in problem behavior following downshifts in reinforcement: A retrospective analysis and replication.

The recurrence of a previously eliminated or reduced behavior following a downshift in alternative reinforcement is referred to as resurgence. Resurgence as Choice (RaC) is a quantitative model of behavioral persistence that posits that resurgence is governed by the same behavioral principles that underlie choice behavior. Consistent with the predictions of RaC, extant basic research with animals indicates that resurgence increases as an exponential function of the size of the downshift in alternative reinforcement.

Assessment and treatment of tracheostomy tube manipulation: Effects of competing stimuli and protective equipment.

Functional analyses (FA) are widely used in the assessment and treatment of problem behavior. However, with limited exceptions, the procedures are rarely applied to potentially dangerous behaviors involving medical equipment. The current study replicated and extended procedures previously used by Kurtz and Chin (2004) to assess and treat tracheostomy tube manipulation in a 5-year-old boy diagnosed with extensive medical and developmental conditions.

Collateral Effects of Behavioral Treatment for Problem Behavior on Caregiver Stress.

When individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities exhibit severe problem behavior, assessment and treatment are often warranted. Parents of such individuals are at high risk for developing parenting stress. In this study, 194 parents completed the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form at their child's time of admission to and discharge from inpatient or outpatient treatment for severe problem behavior.

Further application of the generalized matching law to multialternative sports contexts.

Cox et al. (2017) successfully applied the multialternative version of the generalized matching law (GML) to pitch selection among a sample of Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers. The purpose of the present study was to replicate and extend these findings by fitting the multialternative GML to pitch data among a sample of MLB pitchers with varying levels of success in the major leagues.

Behavioral Approaches to Assessment and Early Intervention for Severe Problem Behavior in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

This article summarizes the literature on prevalence and establishment of severe problem behavior in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, empirical support for applied behavior analysis, and evidence-based behavioral assessment and treatment procedures. Early intervention and prevention approaches and the role of the pediatrician with regard to surveillance, early intervention, and coordination of care are discussed.

An Evaluation of Operant Behavioural Economics in Functional Communication Training for Severe Problem Behaviour.

: This single-case experiment examined the use of behavioural economic concepts in a function-based treatment for problem behaviour. : Behavioural economic analyses were used to evaluate the strength of functions of problem behaviour and this information was used to inform elements of function-based treatment for one child with a neurodevelopmental disorder. : Findings from this experiment indicated that the incorporation of behavioural economic measures resulted in positive treatment effects that were maintained throughout all phases of the evaluation, including those implemented by caregivers.

Functional analysis and treatment of problem behavior exhibited by children with fragile X syndrome.

The efficacy of function-based interventions for the treatment of severe problem behavior exhibited by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is well established. However, few studies have reported on behavioral interventions in fragile X syndrome (FXS) specifically. The present study is a consecutive case-series analysis that reports on functional analysis and treatment of problem behavior of nine children with FXS.

Caregiver- and staff-conducted functional analysis outcomes: a summary of 52 cases.

In the present study, caregivers were trained as therapists to conduct functional analyses (FAs) after staff-conducted FAs were inconclusive with 52 participants. Caregiver-conducted FAs identified at least 1 function for problem behavior when staff-conducted FAs were undifferentiated. When results of the staff-conducted FAs were questionable, subsequent caregiver-conducted FAs resulted in an exact match with staff-conducted FA in about 68% of cases but identified new functions in about 30% of cases.

Functional communication training with and without alternative reinforcement and punishment: an analysis of 58 applications.

Functional communication training (FCT) is an empirically supported treatment for problem behavior displayed by individuals with intellectual disabilities. Hagopian, Fisher, Sullivan, Acquisto, and LeBlanc (1998) analyzed 25 applications of FCT and showed that extinction was a necessary component of FCT, but sometimes punishment was needed to maintain low levels of problem behavior. The current consecutive case series summarized data from 58 applications of FCT in more recent cases.

An evaluation of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist for children under age 5.

Severe problem behaviors such as self-injury and aggression are frequently observed in young children under age 5 with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Although early identification of problem behavior is critical to effective intervention, there are few standardized measures available that identify severe problem behavior in this population. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (ABC-C; Aman & Singh, 1994) is a rating scale that measures the severity of a range of problem behaviors commonly observed in individuals with IDD.

Identification of Emerging Self-Injurious Behavior in Young Children: A Preliminary Study.

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a chronic disorder that often begins in early childhood; however, few studies have examined the onset of SIB in young children. This preliminary study reports on the identification, assessment and observation of SIB in 32 children who had begun to engage in SIB within the previous 6 months. Participants were ages birth to 5 years and presented with or were at risk for intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

An analysis of functional communication training as an empirically supported treatment for problem behavior displayed by individuals with intellectual disabilities.

This paper examines the literature on the use of functional communication training (FCT) as a treatment for problem behavior displayed by individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). Criteria for empirically supported treatments developed by Divisions 12 and 16 of the American Psychological Association (Kratochwill & Stoiber, 2002; Task Force, 1995) and adapted by Jennett and Hagopian (2008) for evaluation of single-case research studies were used to examine the support for FCT. Results indicated that FCT far exceeds criteria to be designated as a well-established treatment for problem behavior exhibited by children with ID and children with autism spectrum disorder, and can be characterized as probably efficacious with adults.

Evaluation of combined-antecedent variables on functional analysis results and treatment of problem behavior in a school setting.

Call, Wacker, Ringdahl, and Boelter (2005) conducted an analysis in which a single-antecedent condition was compared to a multiple-antecedent condition. The present study extended Call et al. by conducting a structured descriptive assessment (SDA) to identify the antecedent variables most associated with problem behavior in a student with traumatic brain injury and intellectual disabilities.

Therapist effects on functional analysis outcomes with young children.

Analog functional analyses (FAs) are commonly used to assess factors that maintain problem behavior of individuals with intellectual disabilities. These analyses are usually conducted by trained staff in clinic settings. However, recent research suggests that FAs conducted by unfamiliar individuals, such as hospital or clinic staff, may result in inaccurate or at least different outcomes.

Treatment of challenging behavior exhibited by children with prenatal drug exposure.

A large body of literature exists describing the harmful effects of prenatal drug exposure on infant and child development. However, there is a paucity of research examining strategies to ameliorate sequelae such as externalizing behavior problems. In the present study, functional analysis procedures were used to assess challenging behavior exhibited by two children who were prenatally exposed to drugs of abuse.

A systematic review of challenging behaviors in children exposed prenatally to substances of abuse.

A review of the existing literature on the occurrence of challenging behavior among children with prenatal drug exposure was conducted. While a large number of studies were identified that evaluated various outcomes of prenatal drug exposure, only 37 were found that directly evaluated challenging behaviors. Of the 37 studies, 23 focused on prenatal cocaine exposure, and 14 focused on prenatal alcohol exposure; most studies relied on broadband measures such as the CBCL for the assessment of challenging behavior.

Cognitive-behavioral treatment for specific phobias with a child demonstrating severe problem behavior and developmental delays.

Cognitive-behavioral treatments (CBTs) are widely used for anxiety disorders in typically developing children; however, there has been no previous attempt to administer CBT for specific phobia (in this case study, one-session treatment) to developmentally or intellectually disabled children. This case study integrates both cognitive-behavioral and behavior analytic assessment techniques in the CBT of water and height phobia in a 7-year-old male with developmental delays and severe behavior problems. One-session treatment [Ost, L.

Functional assessment of problem behaviors in adults with mental retardation.

Functional assessment has significantly improved the success of behavioral treatment of problem behaviors in adults with mental retardation. Functional assessment methods (i.e.

Functional analysis and treatment of self-injurious behavior in young children a summary of 30 cases.

The assessment and treatment of self-injurious behavior (SIB) has received much attention in the literature; however, few studies have focused on early intervention for this behavior. In the current study, functional analyses with developmentally appropriate modifications were conducted in an outpatient clinic with 30 children (aged 10 months to 4 years 11 months) to assess SIB and problem behavior in its early stages. The reported mean age of SIB onset was 17 months, and head banging was the most prevalent topography.