title: The use of negative practice for the control of pica behavior.
abstract: The treatment of a 33-year-old female disabled by mental retardation and Prader-Willi syndrome who exhibited pica is described. Negative practice was administered following each occurrence of the target behavior, that is, biting off and chewing on inedible objects. Data were collected within a reversal design. The results indicated that pica was reduced to a near zero level. Follow-up data collected after 7 months while the procedure was continued revealed a sustained suppression of pica.
authors.affiliation: Process Research Group, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Duker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nielen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D010842:Pica / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011218:Prader-Willi Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology