title: Caregiver- and staff-conducted functional analysis outcomes: a summary of 52 cases.
abstract: In the present study, caregivers were trained as therapists to conduct functional analyses (FAs) after staff-conducted FAs were inconclusive with 52 participants. Caregiver-conducted FAs identified at least 1 function for problem behavior when staff-conducted FAs were undifferentiated. When results of the staff-conducted FAs were questionable, subsequent caregiver-conducted FAs resulted in an exact match with staff-conducted FA in about 68% of cases but identified new functions in about 30% of cases. Function-based treatments based on caregiver-conducted FAs were effective in reducing problem behavior by an average of 96% relative to baseline. Results suggest that when staff-conducted FA outcomes yield inconclusive findings, using caregivers to conduct FAs is likely to produce differentiated results and ultimately result in the development of effective treatments.
authors.affiliation: Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Patricia F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Kurtz
authors.forename: Jill C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fodstad
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Huete
authors.forename: Louis P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Hagopian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010290:Parents; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: caregivers; function-based treatments; functional analysis; severe behavior disorders