Association for Behavior Analysis International

The Association for Behavior Analysis International® (ABAI) is a nonprofit membership organization with the mission to contribute to the well-being of society by developing, enhancing, and supporting the growth and vitality of the science of behavior analysis through research, education, and practice.

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44th Annual Convention; San Diego, CA; 2018

Event Details


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Symposium #39
CE Offered: BACB
Psychotropic Medication and Applied Behavior Analysis
Saturday, May 26, 2018
10:00 AM–11:50 AM
Manchester Grand Hyatt, Seaport Ballroom B
Area: PRA/TBA; Domain: Translational
Chair: Chrystal Jansz Rieken (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology)
Discussant: Jennifer R. Zarcone (Kennedy Krieger Institute)
CE Instructor: Chrystal Jansz Rieken, Ph.D.
Abstract:

Clients benefit most when all members of a collaborative team combine their expertise to consider all possible interventions and outcomes (Zarcone, 2008). With increased calls for behavior analysts to participate in collaborative teams for clients receiving psychotropic medications as part of treatment, it is important to identify current training opportunities for behavior analysts in this area, and consider further opportunities that might be needed. It is also important to review how prescribers are making pharmacological treatment decisions, and how the behavior analyst can contrite to that process. This 4-paper symposium will focus on two related areas. First, two papers will review education and training opportunities available to behavior analysts, as well as BCBAs perceptions on training and collaboration opportunities. Second, two papers will summarize factors that influence prescriber decision making, and how behavior analysts can contribute to that process. A case study demonstrating successful collaboration between behavior analysis and psychiatry will be described.

Keyword(s): collaboration, psychotropic medication, training
Target Audience:

Practicing behavior analysts

Learning Objectives: 1. Discuss perceptions within the field on the role, preparedness, and needs of behavior analysts contributing to psychotropic medication management of client behavior. 2. Describe the training-practice gap in applied behavioral pharmacology 3. Describe how factors that influence prescribing practices may be relevant for behavior analysts.
 
Board Certified Behavior Analysts and Psychotropic Medications: Results of a Survey
(Service Delivery)
ANITA LI (Western Michigan University), Alan D. Poling (Western Michigan University)
Abstract: There has been an increasing pattern of psychotropic medications prescribed to treat problem behaviors in individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other intellectual disabilities (Park et al., 2016). Recent papers (Brodhead, 2014; Newhouse-Oisten, Peck, Conway, & Frieder, 2017) have provided recommendations on interdisciplinary collaboration yet there is little known involving the current practices of Board Certified Behavior Analysts® on the monitoring and evaluation of psychotropic medications as it pertains to behavioral interventions. Board Certified Behavior Analysts® were e-mailed an anonymous web-based survey regarding such practices. Results of the survey indicate that a majority of practitioners work with individuals prescribed at least one psychotropic medication, and that many practitioners do not work in settings that involve interdisciplinary collaboration.
 

Training Opportunities for Behavior Analysts in Psychotropic Medication Treatments in ABAI-Accredited Graduate Programs

(Applied Research)
Annette Griffith (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology), CHRYSTAL JANSZ RIEKEN (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology), Jennifer R. Zarcone (Kennedy Krieger Institute), Krystle Lee Curley (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology), Jessica Calixto (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology)
Abstract:

In recent years, there have been calls for behavior analysts to become more involved with issues related to psychotropic medication, both clinically and in research (van Haaren & Weeden, 2013), and to specifically consider effects of psychotropic medications during clinical assessment and intervention, to participate in the medication management process, and to participate in pharmacological research. Despite these calls, it has been suggested that the majority of behavior analysts may not have the knowledge or skill to work in these areas (Christian, Snycerski, Singh, & Poling, 1999; Wyatt, 2009). Although informal reports and reviews of behavior analytic training programs support this assertion, there is no known research that specifically seeks to determine what the current state of training may be for behavior analysts, in relation to psychopharmacology. Therefore, the current study sought to examine the medication/pharmacology-related training available within accredited training programs, and identify the rationales for the current state of offerings. Discussion will focus on the training opportunities and how they prepare behavior analysts for collaboration with prescribers.

 
Psychotropic Medication Prescription Practices in Autism Spectrum Disorder
(Applied Research)
CHRYSTAL JANSZ RIEKEN (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology), Annette Griffith (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology), Jacqueline Huscroft-D'Angelo (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), Wesley H. Dotson (Texas Tech University), Stacy L. Carter (Texas Tech University)
Abstract: There has been an increasing pattern of psychotropic medications prescribed to treat problem behaviors in individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other intellectual disabilities (Park et al., 2016). Recent papers (Brodhead, 2014; Newhouse-Oisten, Peck, Conway, & Frieder, 2017) have provided recommendations on interdisciplinary collaboration yet there is little known involving the current practices of Board Certified Behavior Analysts® on the monitoring and evaluation of psychotropic medications as it pertains to behavioral interventions. Board Certified Behavior Analysts® were e-mailed an anonymous web-based survey regarding such practices. Results of the survey indicate that a majority of practitioners work with individuals prescribed at least one psychotropic medication, and that many practitioners do not work in settings that involve interdisciplinary collaboration.
 
Medication and Applied Behavior Analysis: A Prescription for Best Practice
(Service Delivery)
JENNIFER QUIGLEY (Melmark), Elizabeth Dayton (Melmark), Anna Marie DiPietro (Melmark), Timothy Nipe (Melmark), Rebekah Hinchcliffe (Melmark), Amanda Gill (Melmark), Amanda Marie Finlay (Melmark), James Chok (Melmark Pennsylvania)
Abstract: In clinical practice, psychiatric practitioners and board certified behavior analysts (BCBA) may make changes to an individual’s medication and behavioral treatment packages independent of one another. The potential benefits of collaboration between psychiatry and behavior analysis include more complete designs to evaluate treatment effect and more in-depth measures of behavioral changes and side effects (Blum et al., 1996). Data will be presented from a residential treatment facility that used this collaborative approach. A combination of systematic manipulations of medication packages and implementation of intensive behavioral interventions led to a reduction in challenging behavior, polypharmacy, and the occurrence of metabolic syndromes.
 

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