Behavioral cohabitation: increasing satisfaction among nonmarried dyads?

The present study reports upon a standard behavior therapy treatment package applied to three clinically referred cohabitating couples. Multidimensional assessment measures included reports by self, partner, and external observers of couples' interactions. Moreover, a multiple-baseline design across couples was employed as a means of evaluating treatment efficacy. Therapy involved the weekly administration of bibliotherapy and exercise material, with therapist contact purposely minimized. An analysis of results indicates modest treatment success with considerable between-subject variability. These findings are discussed with regard to gender differences, ceiling effects, and utilization of standardized therapy packages. Recommendations are made for future behavioral cohabitation research.

Paradoxical procedures and single-case methodology: review and recommendations.

Recently, paradoxical techniques have been increasingly employed by behavior therapists. The present paper: summarizes case study paradoxical investigations, reviews paradoxical procedures evaluated via intrasubject replication designs, and offers suggestions for continued use of single-case methodology in paradoxical research. Five major design strategies (reversal, time-series, multiple-baseline, simultaneous treatment and changing criterion) are discussed and examples provided within each area. Specific recommendations are made for a further merging of single-case experimental designs and paradoxical therapies.

The "bathroom game": a systematic program for the elimination of encopretic behavior.

The present investigation utilized a unique, variable ratio schedule of reinforcement (the "bathroom game") to treat a 10-year-old encopretic male. Dependent measures included confirmed incidents of (a) soiling and (b) appropriate bowel movements monitored across an ABAB design (Baseline 1, "Bathroom Game 1", Baseline 2, "Bathroom Game 2") with one-year follow-up. During "bathroom game" conditions, contingent monetary rewards were provided for non-instances of soiling and appropriate bowel movements. Such rewards were progressively and systematically leaned-out over the course of treatment on a pre-determined variable ratio schedule. Results indicated a clear demonstration of functional control and clinically significant treatment effects during both experimental periods. These findings are discussed with regard to the positive features of the "bathroom game" procedure and recommendations are made for future investigations in the area.

Behavioural-communications treatment of marital interaction: negative behaviours.

The present investigation assessed the effectiveness of a behavioural-communications marital intervention package focused solely upon negative behaviours. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated via two independent, within-subject multiple base-line designs. Four target behaviours, selected on the basis of clinical and laboratory assessment, were sequentially and cumulatively introduced over the course of an eight-week treatment programme. Multimodal assessment techniques included self-report, spouse-report, and direct observations of laboratory-based interactions. While slight differences occurred between measurement systems, all results attested to the efficacy of the therapeutic package. One-year follow-up data continued to indicate maintenance of treatment gains over time. These findings were discussed with regard to decelerative targets of intervention, and recommendations were made for continued investigations in the area.

Paradoxical instruction in the treatment of encopresis and chronic constipation: an experimental analysis.

The purpose of the present single-case experimental investigation was to examine the efficacy of paradoxical instruction in the treatment of exacerbation-based discontinuous encopresis and chronic constipation. The subject, a 9-yr old male, complained of infrequent bowel movements and daily soiling. In addition, toileting and related activities appeared to cause considerable anxiety. An ABAB reversal design with 1-yr follow-up was used as a means of evaluating treatment effectiveness. Dependent measures included weekly parental records of soiling and appropriate bowel movements. Results indicated a clear demonstration of functional control and consistent improvement in the encopretic disturbance. These findings were maintained at 1-yr follow-up.

Effects of subliminal stimulation of symbiotic merging fantasies on behavioral treatment of smokers.

The subliminal psychodynamic activation method was used to enhance the efficacy of a behavior therapy approach to smoking cessation. Thirty-four subjects received a 3-week, group-oriented, multicomponent behavior therapy package aimed at smoking cessation. Subjects were randomly assigned to either experimental or control groups. The experimental group received the subliminal message "mommy and I are one," and the control group the message "people are walking." At 4-weeks post-treatment the abstinence rate for the experimentals was 67 per cent and 12.5 per cent for the controls. At 12-weeks follow-up, 44 per cent of the experimentals and 12.5 per cent of the controls were abstinent. A chi2 analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between groups at 4 but not 12 weeks. A multiple analysis of covariance was used to analyze percentage of baseline smoking at both follow-up points. A significant main effect for treatment and for time emerged along with an interaction between treatment and time. Thus, the results revealed that the subliminally exposed message differentially effected the post-treatment smoking behavior of the experimental group. The results were interpreted as evidence for a transference phenomena explanation for the effectiveness of the behavioral treatment program.

Application of a social skills training program in the modification of interpersonal deficits among retarded adults: a clinical replication.

Six mentally retarded adults, equally divided into two treatment groups, were provided with individualized social skills training programs. Treatment, evaluated via a multiple-baseline design strategy, was sequentially and cumulatively applied across target behaviors over a four-week intervention period. Behavioral observation probes and social validation measures served as the primary dependent variables. Results indicated that (a) treatment was effective for virtually all behaviors across all subjects, (b) improvements occurred for both training and generalization scenes, and (c) behavioral performance was maintained one month following the termination of treatment.

Positive parental praise: increasing reactivity and accuracy of self-observation.

The parents of a 6-year-old disruptive boy were observed interacting with their son during 20 assessment-oriented, 10-minute experimental sessions. An experimental design consisting of alternately arranged baseline and self-monitoring conditions was utilized. Following the reversal-to-baseline phase, parents were given specialized training in self-recording positive parental praise. Results indicated that (a) self-monitoring of positive verbalizations was an effective means of producing reactive changes in parental behavior, and (b) training in self-monitoring increased parent-observer accuracy scores to more than acceptable levels of agreement. These findings were discussed with regard to the simplicity of a parental self-observational intervention and recommendations were made for continuing investigations in the area.