Differential response of operant self-injury to pharmacologic versus behavioral treatment.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that self-injurious behavior (SIB) maintained by environmental factors will be more effectively treated by behavioral treatments than by haloperidol. Fifteen subjects were enrolled in this study. The efficacy of both haloperidol and a behavioral treatment was assessed. At the onset of treatment, subjects were randomized to receive either haloperidol or a placebo. During each day of treatment, data were collected during sessions with a behavioral treatment and sessions without a behavioral treatment. Behavioral treatment resulted in a statistically significant decrease in SIB, but haloperidol did not. Eighty-three percent of subjects were classified as responders to the behavioral treatment whereas only 25% of the subjects were responders to haloperidol (p = .019). We conclude that individuals with operant SIB are more likely to respond to behavioral treatments than to haloperidol.

Fixed-time schedules attenuate extinction-induced phenomena in the treatment of severe aberrant behavior.

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.