title: Fixed-time schedules attenuate extinction-induced phenomena in the treatment of severe aberrant behavior.
abstract: We compared the effects of extinction (EXT) and fixed-time (FT) schedules as treatment for severe problem behavior displayed by 3 individuals with developmental disabilities. First, functional analyses identified the reinforcers maintaining aberrant behavior for all 3 individuals. Next, EXT and FT schedules were compared using a multielement design. During EXT, the reinforcer maintaining problem behavior was withheld. During FT, the reinforcers were presented response independently at preset intervals. Results showed that FT schedules were generally more effective than EXT schedules in reducing aberrant behavior. FT schedules may be used in situations when extinction-induced phenomena are problematic.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Vollmer
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Progar
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lalli
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Van Camp
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Sierp
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nastasi
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Eisenschink
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index