A retrospective analysis of the relation between resurgence and renewal of behavior targeted for reduction.

Functional communication training (FCT) is an evidence-based treatment for behavior targeted for reduction that often combines extinction for target responses and arranges functionally equivalent reinforcement for alternative behavior. Long-term effectiveness of FCT can become compromised when transitioning from clinic to nonclinic contexts or thinning reinforcement schedules for appropriate behavior. Such increases in targeted behavior have been conceptualized as renewal and resurgence, respectively.

A comparative effectiveness trial of functional behavioral assessment methods.

Clinicians report primarily using functional behavioral assessment (FBA) methods that do not include functional analyses. However, studies examining the correspondence between functional analyses and other types of FBAs have produced inconsistent results. In addition, although functional analyses are considered the gold standard, their contribution toward successful treatment compared with other FBA methods remains unclear.

Expanding a laboratory model for evaluating relapse of caregiver nonadherence.

Caregiver adherence to treatment plans is likely maintained by negative reinforcement and can contact extinction when child responding relapses. When caregiver adherence contacts extinction, caregiver nonadherence, such as reinforcing their child's challenging behavior, relapses, threatening treatment efficacy. Previous laboratory models demonstrating the relapse of caregiver nonadherence only evaluated treatment for behavior maintained by social-positive reinforcement, not that maintained by social-negative reinforcement.

The Development and Acceptability of a Comprehensive Crisis Prevention Program for Implementation in Health Care Settings.

Introduction: Behavioral crises are increasingly prevalent in health care settings. Existing programs, however, include procedures that lack adaptability, omit critical components, and deviate from clinical best-practice recommendations. Health care employees also continue to report lacking confidence for safely managing behavioral crises.

Behavioral Assessment and Treatment via Telehealth for Children with Autism: From Local to Global Clinical Applications.

Functional analyses (FA) and functional communication training (FCT) are the most commonly used behavioral assessment and treatment approaches via telehealth for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who display challenging behavior. The FA + FCT telehealth model has been shown to maintain treatment effectiveness (i.e.

Parent Ratings of Generalized and Indirect Effects of Functional Communication Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Functional communication training (FCT) is a behavioral treatment that has been shown to reduce problem behavior and increase appropriate communication in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this study, we assessed the effects of FCT on targeted and nontargeted problem behaviors outside of the training context, as well as parent stress, for 30 young children with ASD and their parents. Indirect measures of generalization treatment effects were administered prior to and following FCT treatment delivered via telehealth.

A Feasibility Randomized Clinical Trial of a Structured Function-Based Intervention for Elopement in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Elopement is a common and dangerous concern in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There is evidence that behavior analytic treatments can successfully treat elopement, but the research is limited due to small samples and treatment components varying across studies. The current study evaluated the feasibility of studying a manualized intervention for elopement, based on strategies from single-subject research, in a randomized clinical trial with 24 individuals with ASD.

Remote Coaching of Caregivers Via Telehealth: Challenges and Potential Solutions.

The use of telehealth technologies to provide clinical services to families of children with autism and other developmental disabilities is a rapidly growing area of research. In particular, remote training of caregivers via video conferencing appears to be a promising approach for disseminating behavior-analytic interventions (Neely, Rispoli, Gerow, Hong, Hagan-Burke, 2017; Tomlinson, Gore, & McGill, 2018). Although remote training offers a number of advantages, it brings a variety of challenges that are unique to this modality.

A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial of a Multidisciplinary Intervention for Encopresis in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often delayed in achieving bowel continence, resulting in negative outcomes. In this pilot trial, 20 children with ASD and encopresis were randomly assigned to multidisciplinary intervention for encopresis (MIE; n = 10) or a waitlist control group (n = 10). The MIE group was treated for constipation and received a 10-day behavioral intervention that utilized suppositories to produce predictable bowel movements that were reinforced.

An Evaluation of Differential Reinforcement in the Treatment of Pica.

Common approaches to pica treatment involve intensive staffing and near continuous behavioral monitoring to proactively disrupt any attempts at this potentially life threatening behavior. Including differential reinforcement of discarding pica items as a contingency in such interventions has been suggested as a more practical treatment model, but the evidence base for this approach is limited. We replicated this work by evaluating differential reinforcement for discarding pica items in conjunction with response blocking and differential reinforcement of other behavior in the treatment of pica exhibited by two children.

Effects of Magnitude on the Displacement of Leisure Items by Edible Items During Preference Assessments.

Studies on preference assessments have shown that when both edible and leisure items are compared, edible items tend to displace leisure items in preference hierarchies. However, the mechanisms behind this process are currently unclear. One possibility is that displacement may be a product of the relatively brief periods of access to leisure items typically used in preference assessments.

A comparison of sources of baseline data for treatments of problem behavior following a functional analysis.

It is common practice in research on the treatment of problem behavior to compare levels of targeted behaviors during treatment to levels when treatment is not in place. Some researchers use data collected as part of a multielement functional analysis as the initial baseline, whereas others collect new baseline data following completion of the functional analysis. We evaluated whether the source of baseline data influences the reliability and efficiency of decision-making.

Assessment and Treatment of Problem Behavior Maintained by Termination of Interruptions.

Purpose: Previous research has identified termination of interruptions to repetitive behaviour as a reinforcer capable of maintaining problem behaviour. Effective treatments have included functional communication training and multiple schedules of reinforcement.

Methods: In the present study, a functional analysis determined that the aggression of an eight-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder was maintained by termination of interruptions of repetitive behaviour.

Using a Functional Analysis Followed by Differential Reinforcement and Extinction to Reduce Challenging Behaviors in Children With Smith-Magenis Syndrome.

Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a genetic disorder, commonly caused by a 17p11.2 deletion, affecting the Retinoic Acid Induced 1 gene. It affects approximately 1 in 25,000 individuals, with over 90% engaging in challenging behaviors.

A consecutive case series analysis of a behavioral intervention for enuresis in children with developmental disabilities.

Children with developmental disabilities (DD) are more likely than typically developing peers to have issues with enuresis. Past research has shown the success of behavioral treatments consisting of scheduled sits and reinforcement for continent voids. However, this research has included small sample sizes, while studies with larger numbers have lacked key information (i.

Using caregiver report on the impact of challenging behavior exhibited by children with autism spectrum disorder to guide treatment development and outcomes.

Evaluations of treatments using applied behavior analysis (ABA) for challenging behavior have relied mostly on direct behavioral observation. While observation is crucial, qualitative information can also be beneficial. In this study, we describe methods for using qualitative information in ABA treatments for challenging behavior.

Practice Recommendations for Addressing Problem Behaviors in Siblings with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display an increased prevalence of problem behavior, relative to the typically developing population. Given the heritability of ASD and its growing prevalence, clinicians who implement behavioral treatments are likely to encounter families with siblings with ASD who exhibit problem behavior. Thus, there is a need for guidance for treatment of problem behavior for these families.

The Effects of Conducting a Functional Analysis on Problem Behavior in Other Settings: A Descriptive Study on Potential Interaction Effects.

It has been suggested that reinforcing problem behavior during functional analyses (FAs) may raise ethical questions, such as resulting in an increase in problem behavior outside of FA sessions. The current translational study assessed whether conducting an FA resulted in increases in problem behavior outside of the FA setting for six participants using a nonconcurrent multiple baseline across participants design. The rate of problem behavior was measured outside the FA setting prior to and during an FA.

Correspondence between the results of functional analyses and brief functional analyses.

Purpose: This study sought to examine the correspondence between brief functional analyses and more thorough functional analyses as described in the model of functional assessment proposed by Vollmer et al. Methods: A panel of trained clinicians indicated the presence/absence of specific functions of problem behavior based on graphic results from brief functional analyses and functional analyses conducted with 19 participants. These conclusions were compared across assessments.

A multidisciplinary treatment for encopresis in children with developmental disabilities.

Achieving continence of one's bowel movements is a key step in development and failure to do so leads to many negative consequences. Treatments for encopresis appearing in the literature have employed behavioral strategies; medications such as suppositories, laxatives, or enemas; and in some studies a combination of these approaches. To date, attempts to extend successful treatments for encopresis in typically developing children to those with developmental disabilities have been limited.

Use of a latency-based demand assessment to identify potential demands for functional analyses.

Unlike potential tangible positive reinforcers, which are typically identified for inclusion in functional analyses empirically using preference assessments, demands are most often selected arbitrarily or based on caregiver report. The present study evaluated the use of a demand assessment with 12 participants who exhibited escape-maintained problem behavior. Participants were exposed to 10 demands, with aversiveness measured by average latency to the first instance of problem behavior.

Clinical outcomes of behavioral treatments for elopement in individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.

The external validity of behavioral treatments for elopement (i.e. leaving supervision without permission) remains unclear because studies to date include only small samples ( n = 1-3).

Clinical Outcomes of Behavioral Treatments for Pica in Children with Developmental Disabilities.

Pica is a potentially deadly form of self-injurious behavior most frequently exhibited by individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Research indicates that pica can be decreased with behavioral interventions; however, the existing literature reflects treatment effects for small samples (n = 1-4) and the overall success of such treatments is not well-understood. This study quantified the overall effect size by examining treatment data from all patients seen for treatment of pica at an intensive day-treatment clinical setting (n = 11), irrespective of treatment success.

The impact of delays on parents' perceptions of treatments for problem behavior.

Parent engagement in behavioral interventions is critical for treatments to succeed. Parental decision-making regarding treatments can be impacted by systematic biases, such as the tendency to discount the value of delayed benefits, or "delay discounting". This study examined the impact of delay discounting on parents' perceptions of treatment for their children's problem behavior.

Direct assessment of preferences for social interactions in children with autism.

Qualitative and quantitative differences in social interactions are core symptoms of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnostic criteria, although there is heterogeneity among individuals with ASDs. This study used a concurrent operants arrangement to evaluate whether social interactions functioned as positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, or as neutral stimuli for 6 individuals with autism. Data suggest that clinicians who work with individuals with ASD should ascertain the functional properties of social interactions prior to using them as a consequence in interventions.