title: A preliminary investigation on improving functional communication training by mitigating resurgence of destructive behavior.
abstract: Despite the effectiveness and widespread use of functional communication training (FCT), resurgence of destructive behavior can occur if the functional communication response (FCR) contacts a challenge, such as lapses in treatment integrity. We evaluated a method to mitigate resurgence by conducting FCT using a multiple schedule of reinforcement prior to extinction. After functional analyses of 2 boys' destructive behavior and treatment with FCT (Study 1), we compared levels of resurgence during an extinction challenge either after a typical FCT sequence or after exposure to schedule thinning in the context of a multiple-schedule arrangement (Study 2). Results for both participants suggested that schedule thinning using discriminative stimuli in a multiple schedule mitigated the resurgence of destructive behavior.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute.
authors.forename: Ashley M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fuhrman
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute.
authors.forename: Wayne W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute.
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Greer
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000502:physiology; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings
keywords: behavioral momentum theory; destructive behavior; functional communication training; multiple schedules; resurgence; translational research