Functional analysis of self-injurious behavior in an adult with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome.

A three-phase functional analysis was conducted to discover controlling variables of self-injury in a 28-year-old individual with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Experimental verification followed information-gathering and interpretive phases. Self-injurious responses were blocked to prevent harm to the participant; therefore, responses measured were precursors to self-injury.