Biomedical subjects

F J Vaccaro

Publications and source records attributed to F J Vaccaro.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Physically aggressive elderly: a social skills training program.

The present investigation utilized a social skills training program to eliminate physically aggressive behavior in a group of six institutionalized elderly patients. The treatment package consisted of instructions, modeling, role playing and feedback. Dependent measures included confirmed incidents of physically aggressive behavior monitored across an ABAB design with a 5-month follow-up period. Results indicated that physically aggressive behavior can be significantly decreased in a group training setting and subsequently generalized to ward and other socialized behavior. Ancillary aspects of the study include the differential properties associated with physical and verbal aggression, the role of vicarious reinforcement on behavior, and generalization effects.

Aged↗

PubMed1990

Application of social skills training in a group of institutionalized aggressive elderly subjects.

A social skills training program consisting of instructions, modeling, role playing, and feedback was carried out with a group of 6 verbally aggressive institutionalized elderly patients. Dependent measures included confirmed incidents of verbal aggressive behavior monitored across an ABAB design with a 5-month follow-up period. Results indicated that verbally aggressive behavior can be significantly decreased in a group-training setting and subsequently generalized to ward and other socialized behavior. Ancillary aspects of the study include the role of social reinforcement, participant modeling, and staff attitude, perception, and motivation. Implications for future research are discussed.

Aged↗

PubMed1988

Application of operant procedures in a group of institutionalized aggressive geriatric patients.

This study used positive reinforcement schedules versus no reinforcement on a group of 6 highly aggressive, institutionalized elderly patients. Dependent measures included confirmed incidents of physical and verbal aggressive behavior monitored across an ABAB design with a 4-month phase-out period. Results indicated that aggressive behavior can be significantly decreased in a group setting and subsequently generalized to ward behavior. Ancillary aspects of the study included the role of tangible and back-up reinforcers and staff attitude and behavior. Implications for future research are discussed.

Aged↗

PubMed1988

Successful operant conditioning procedures with an institutionalized aggressive geriatric patient.

The present investigation utilized a modified differential reinforcement of other behaviors (DRO) schedule with an exclusionary time-out procedure to treat a sixty-nine year-old aggressive male. Dependent measures included confirmed incidents of physical and verbal aggressive behavior monitored across an ABAB design with a four month follow-up. During the experimental conditions, contingent tangible reinforcers were provided for non-aggressive behavior. Such rewards were progressively diminished over the course of treatment utilizing a systematic fading scheme. Results indicated a clear demonstration of behavioral control and clinically significant treatment effects during both experimental periods. Implications for future research are discussed.

Aged↗