title: Functional analysis and intervention for breath holding.
abstract: We conducted a functional analysis of breath-holding episodes in a 7-year-old girl with severe mental retardation and Cornelia-de-Lange syndrome. The results showed that breath holding served an operant function, primarily to gain access to attention. The intervention, consisting of extinction, scheduled attention, and use of a picture card communication system, resulted in decreased breath holding.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mauk
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Marder
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Mace
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D003635:De Lange Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010092:Oximetry; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014040:Token Economy