Empirically derived consequences: a data-based method for prescribing treatments for destructive behavior.

W Fisher; C C Piazza; L G Bowman; L P Hagopian; N A Langdon

doi:10.1016/0891-4222(94)90018-3

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PubMed · 8085030

Empirically derived consequences: a data-based method for prescribing treatments for destructive behavior.

W Fisher·C C Piazza·L G Bowman·L P Hagopian·N A Langdon

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Abstract

Behavioral treatments are often prescribed on the basis of a functional assessment. However, in a significant number of cases, functional assessment results are equivocal or suggest that internal stimuli are maintaining the behavior. In this investigation, we evaluated an alternative data-based assessment that may be useful in such cases. This assessment was used to identify reinforcers and punishers based on the reinforcement assessment procedure described by Pace, Ivancic, Edwards, Iwata, and Page (1985). We then assessed whether empirically derived reinforcers and punishers could be combined to treat the destructive behaviors of two clients. For both clients, the rates of destructive behavior decreased markedly. The results suggest that empirically derived consequences may be useful in decreasing destructive behavior when a functional assessment is inconclusive or is consistent with the hypothesis that the behavior is stereo-typic and maintained by internal stimuli.

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Aggression Behavior Therapy Child Child Behavior Disorders Child, Preschool Dangerous Behavior Female Humans Intellectual Disability Internal-External Control Male Reinforcement Schedule Self-Injurious Behavior Stereotyped Behavior Treatment Outcome Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

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W Fisher, C C Piazza, L G Bowman, L P Hagopian, N A Langdon. Empirically derived consequences: a data-based method for prescribing treatments for destructive behavior.. https://doi.org/10.1016/0891-4222(94)90018-3

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