title: Progressing from identification and functional analysis of precursor behavior to treatment of self-injurious behavior.
abstract: This multiple-study experiment evaluated the utility of assessing and treating severe self-injurious behavior SIB based on the outcomes of a functional analysis of precursor behavior. In Study 1, a precursor to SIB was identified using descriptive assessment and conditional probability analyses. In Study 2, a functional analysis of precursor behavior was conducted. Finally, study 3 evaluated the effects of a treatment in which precursor behavior produced the maintaining variable identified in the precursor functional analysis. Studies 1 and 3 were conducted in two settings in the participants natural environment, where data collection was ongoing throughout the course of the study. Results showed that it was possible to identify a precursor to infrequent but severe SIB, that a functional analysis of precursor behavior suggested a clear operant function, and that treatment based on the results of the precursor functional analysis reduced SIB in the natural environment.
authors: University of North Texas, Denton, Texas 76203, USA.
authors: Joseph D
authors: JD
authors: Dracobly
authors: Richard G
authors: RG
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D019370:Observation; D011336:Probability; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult