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Rahaman JA, Fahmie TA, Melanson IJ, DeBrine JE, Zangrillo AN. A concise review of the correspondence between the traditional functional analysis and alternative assessment formats. J Appl Behav Anal 2024; 57:515-520. [PMID: 38361442 DOI: 10.1002/jaba.1060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The functional assessment of challenging behavior (e.g., self-injurious behavior) has evolved over many years of research and practice. This concise review summarizes the positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of common procedural adaptations reported to improve functional assessment safety and efficiency. We conclude with suggestions for clinicians and researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javid A Rahaman
- Severe Behavior Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Tara A Fahmie
- Severe Behavior Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Isaac J Melanson
- Severe Behavior Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jordan E DeBrine
- Severe Behavior Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Amanda N Zangrillo
- Severe Behavior Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute, Omaha, NE, USA
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Strohmeier CW, Goetzel A, Deinlein S, Schmidt JD. Repetitive Speech and Problem Behavior: Functional Analysis of Precurrent Contingencies. Behav Anal Pract 2023; 16:745-754. [PMID: 37680334 PMCID: PMC10480119 DOI: 10.1007/s40617-022-00743-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Abstract
When mands and problem behavior co-occur within an individual's repertoire, a functional analysis of precurrent contingencies helps to identify any relation between the two responses, as well as the function of problem behavior. Repetitive behaviors may function similarly to mands and also co-occur with problem behavior; particularly when repetitive behavior is blocked, or when caregivers refrain from participating in repetitive behavior episodes (e.g., the repetitive behavior involves a verbal or physical interaction with a caregiver). The current study presents assessment and treatment results for two participants diagnosed with autism, who demonstrated repetitive speech and problem behavior. Informal observations suggested that problem behavior occurred when an adult failed to emit a specific response to the participant's repetitive speech. Functional analysis results confirmed the informal observations and suggested that problem behavior functioned as a precurrent response to increase the probability of reinforcement for repetitive speech. We report treatment results and discuss the application of precurrent contingency analyses for problem behavior and repetitive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig W. Strohmeier
- Neurobehavioral Unit Programs, Department of Behavioral Psychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Amanda Goetzel
- Neurobehavioral Unit Programs, Department of Behavioral Psychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Sara Deinlein
- Neurobehavioral Unit Programs, Department of Behavioral Psychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Jonathan D. Schmidt
- Neurobehavioral Unit Programs, Department of Behavioral Psychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
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Lerman DC. When Science Cannot Guide us: A Call to Action for Applied Behavior Analysts. Perspect Behav Sci 2023; 46:313-320. [PMID: 37425984 PMCID: PMC10322805 DOI: 10.1007/s40614-023-00377-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence presented in the ABAI Task Force Report on Contingent Electric Skin Shock (CESS) revealed serious ethical, clinical, and practical problems with the contemporary use of CESS. As a member of the task force, I ultimately concluded that our recommended position statement ("Position A") was a misguided attempt to uphold the field's commitment to client choice. Furthermore, information gathered by the task force supports an urgent call to find solutions to two additional troubling issues: a severe shortage of treatment services for severe problem behavior and the near-absence of research on treatment-resistant behavior. In this commentary, I discuss reasons Position A was not a tenable stance and why we must do better to help our most vulnerable clients.
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Rotta K, Essig L, Davis J, Poling A. Functional analyses of undesirable behavior by nonhumans: A concise review. J Appl Behav Anal 2023. [PMID: 37115738 DOI: 10.1002/jaba.990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
We reviewed 13 articles that used functional analysis in the assessment of undesirable behavior emitted by dogs, cats, a baboon, a lemur, a chimpanzee, and a vulture. The functional analysis produced a clear outcome for 32 of 33 subjects, demonstrating its efficacy with nonhumans. We propose several avenues for further examination of its application to nonhumans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Rotta
- Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - Lindsay Essig
- Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - Jade Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Alan Poling
- Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
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Layman LN, Dufrene BA, Ackley MM, Weaver CM, Schneider DE, LaBrot ZC, Taylor CN, Rahaman JA, Tawney KN, Hart T, Olmi DJ. Interview-Informed Synthesized Contingency Analyses on Challenging Problem Behavior: a Single-Case Meta-analysis. REVIEW JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s40489-023-00357-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
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Bush H, Phaup E, Brogan K, Edgemon AK, Richling S, Rapp JT. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Treating Severe Behavior in a Juvenile Justice Facility: Teaching Behavioral Self-Management via Telehealth. BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL ISSUES 2023; 32:1-28. [PMID: 38625107 PMCID: PMC10033175 DOI: 10.1007/s42822-023-00123-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Adolescents living in residential juvenile justice facilities often receive mental health services during their stay to address committed offenses, yet some display challenging behavior during moments of conflict within the facility. These challenging behaviors could result in risk of harm to self or others, or the individual may experience punishment from facility staff. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of an additive voluntary focused intervention for individuals who continued to display challenging behavior despite participation in "treatment as usual" in a juvenile justice facility. We implemented a self-management intervention, supported through interprofessional collaboration, via telehealth with four male adolescents. Using Behavior Skills Training, we taught participants to self-monitor precursors for challenging behavior and identify an alternative behavior to engage in to prevent overt challenging behavior events. Alternative behaviors were responses incompatible with the challenging behavior, or served as a rule to prompt self-management of further behavior. Results show all four participants increased their selection of alternative behaviors when presented with an evocative situation and a precursor for a severe behavior event during simulations. In addition, three participants stated they would use alternative behaviors across precursors not presented during teaching; however, two participants required booster sessions to maintain appropriate responding during simulations. Outside of simulated sessions, facility staff reported modest decreases in participants' challenging behavior during and after the intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Bush
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, 226 Thach, Auburn, AL 36849-5214 USA
| | - Emily Phaup
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, 226 Thach, Auburn, AL 36849-5214 USA
| | - Kristen Brogan
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, 226 Thach, Auburn, AL 36849-5214 USA
| | - Anna Kate Edgemon
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, 226 Thach, Auburn, AL 36849-5214 USA
| | - Sarah Richling
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, 226 Thach, Auburn, AL 36849-5214 USA
| | - John T. Rapp
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, 226 Thach, Auburn, AL 36849-5214 USA
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Melanson IJ, Fahmie TA. Functional analysis of problem behavior: A 40-year review. J Appl Behav Anal 2023; 56:262-281. [PMID: 36892835 DOI: 10.1002/jaba.983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Extensive reviews of functional analysis literature were conducted 10 (Beavers et al., 2013) and 20 (Hanley et al., 2003) years ago; we expanded this review to capture the vast and innovative functional analysis research that has occurred over the past decade. Our review produced 1,333 functional analysis outcomes from 326 studies on the functional analysis of problem behavior between June 2012 and May 2022. Some characteristics of functional analysis studies were similar across the current and previous two reviews (e.g., child participants, developmental disability diagnosis, use of line graphs depicting session means, differentiated response outcomes). Other characteristics deviated from the previous two reviews (e.g., increase in autistic representation, outpatient settings, use of supplementary assessments, the inclusion of tangible conditions, and multiple function outcomes; decrease in session durations). We update previously reported participant and methodological characteristics, summarize outcomes, comment on recent trends, and propose future directions in the functional analysis literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac J Melanson
- University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute, Severe Behavior Department, Omaha, United States
| | - Tara A Fahmie
- University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute, Severe Behavior Department, Omaha, United States
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Metoyer CN, Fritz JN, Hunt JC, Fletcher VL. Teaching caregivers to respond safely during agitated states before aggression using simulation training. J Appl Behav Anal 2020; 53:2250-2259. [DOI: 10.1002/jaba.751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlyn N. Metoyer
- Department of Clinical, Health, and Applied Sciences University of Houston‐Clear Lake
| | - Jennifer N. Fritz
- Department of Clinical, Health, and Applied Sciences University of Houston‐Clear Lake
| | - Justin C. Hunt
- Department of Clinical, Health, and Applied Sciences University of Houston‐Clear Lake
| | - Victoria L. Fletcher
- Department of Clinical, Health, and Applied Sciences University of Houston‐Clear Lake
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Leaf JB, Cihon JH, Ferguson JL, Milne CM, Leaf R, McEachin J. Advances in Our Understanding of Behavioral Intervention: 1980 to 2020 for Individuals Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 51:4395-4410. [PMID: 32240487 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04481-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
There are three branches of science of behavior analysis [i.e., experimental analysis of behavior, behavior analysis, and applied behavior analysis (ABA)]. ABA can be defined as a systematic approach to understanding behavior of social interest. For the past 40 plus years, researchers have evaluated ABA and ABA based procedures (e.g., behavioral intervention) as they relate to individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and have implemented behavioral intervention in clinical settings for individuals diagnosed with ASD. In this paper, we discuss some of the pivotal contributions in the field of ABA in research and clinical practice. Additionally, we provide recommendations for the science and clinical practice of behavioral intervention in the next 40 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin B Leaf
- Autism Partnership Foundation, 200 Marina Drive, Seal Beach, CA, 90740, USA. .,Endicott College, Beverly, MA, USA.
| | - Joseph H Cihon
- Autism Partnership Foundation, 200 Marina Drive, Seal Beach, CA, 90740, USA.,Endicott College, Beverly, MA, USA
| | - Julia L Ferguson
- Autism Partnership Foundation, 200 Marina Drive, Seal Beach, CA, 90740, USA
| | - Christine M Milne
- Autism Partnership Foundation, 200 Marina Drive, Seal Beach, CA, 90740, USA.,Endicott College, Beverly, MA, USA
| | - Ronald Leaf
- Autism Partnership Foundation, 200 Marina Drive, Seal Beach, CA, 90740, USA
| | - John McEachin
- Autism Partnership Foundation, 200 Marina Drive, Seal Beach, CA, 90740, USA
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