Functional communication training plus extinction is effective in reducing problem behavior maintained by environmental rearrangement

摘要

Design: First, a functional analysis was conducted within the context of a multielement design in order to identify the variables maintaining problem behavior. One of the specialized functional analysis conditions measured the occurrence of problem behavior when requests (mands) to reinstate previous environmental conditions were not honored. The rate of problem behavior in this "denied-mand" functional analysis condition then served as the baseline phase of the subsequent intervention study. The intervention was evaluated in an ABAB reversal design. Allocation: The study included one participant and that participant received treatment. Blinding: No blinding procedures were reported. Study duration: Eighty-eight sessions were conducted. Sessions ranged in duration from 5 to 20 min until Session 56. After Session 56, session duration gradually increased from 20 min to 45 min. Setting: The study was conducted in an empty bedroom and an activity area at an inpatient unit. After Session 83, sessions also occurred in novel settings (i.e., common room, hospital cafeteria, and classroom).