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| Translational Research: Behavioral economics and conditioned suppression |
| Monday, May 25, 2015 |
| 9:00 AM–9:50 AM |
| 214C (CC) |
| Area: DDA; Domain: Applied Research |
| Chair: Keith Lit (Nova Southeastern University) |
| Discussant: Duncan Pritchard (Aran Hall School) |
| Abstract: The past 35 years have seen a growing recognition of the importance of linking basic and applied research in order to develop effective behavioral treatments and establish the generality of basic behavioral relations. This coordinated effort has come to be known as translational research. The most common approach is to translate basic research findings into behavioral technologies that are often novel and of benefit to human problem behavior in applied settings. The first study utilizes behavioural economics to examine stimuli that are functionally similar and functionally dissimilar. A competing stimulus and brief substitutability assessment were conducted and the results from the assessment were used to inform treatment for mouthing, disruption and self-injurious behavior in a five-year old boy. The second study examined obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is characterized by recurrent and ritualized acts that often have no social behavioral function. These behaviors commonly co-occur with anxiety. We used mild reprimands to suppress compulsive behaviors in a 16 year-old male diagnosed with OCD. Both these studies highlight the benefit that translational research can have on improved clinical treatments for serious behavior disorders. |
| Keyword(s): Behavioral economics, Conditioned suppression, Translational research |
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| Are open or closed-behavioral economics models better predictors of favorable responses to treatment of automatically reinforced problem behavior? |
| STEPHANIE TRAUSCHKE (Nova Southeastern University), Joelle Krantz (Nova Southeastern University), Tara M. Sheehan (Mailman Segal Institute), Danielle Tarver (Nova Southeastern University), Iser Guillermo DeLeon (Kennedy Krieger Institute), F. Charles Mace (Nova Southeastern University) |
| Abstract: Behavioral economics can be helpful in understanding how behavior is allocated. The present study utilizes behavioral economics to examine stimuli that are functionally similar (matched) and functionally dissimilar (unmatched) to a five-year old male’s mouthing behavior and efficacy of the stimuli in treatment. A competing stimulus assessment and brief substitutability assessment were conducted. Results from the assessments were utilized to inform treatment. For treatment, the participant was exposed to differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) for matched and unmatched stimuli, as well as an ignore condition. Data were collected on the participant’s mouthing, self-injurious behavior, disruptive behavior, and engagement in the stimuli. The DRO schedule interval was increased. Results suggest that mouthing decreased more in the unmatched stimulus condition than the matched stimulus condition. In addition, the decrease in mouthing in the unmatched stimulus condition was more durable as the DRO schedule interval was increased. |
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| Conditioned Suppression of Compulsive Behavior in an Adolescent Diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder |
| HEATHER PENNEY (Aran Hall School), Duncan Pritchard (Aran Hall School), Marguerite L. Hoerger (Bangor University), F. Charles Mace (Nova Southeastern University) |
| Abstract: A distinction can be made between conditioned suppression and stimulus control of punishment effects. The former occurs when a neutral stimulus predicts the onset of an aversive stimulus independent of responding (i.e., an S-S contingency) or contingent on a reinforced response (i.e., an S-R-S contingency). Both contingencies can result in cessation of reinforced behavior in the presence of the stimulus. By contrast, stimulus control of punished responses may be difficult to unambiguously establish. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurrent and ritualized acts that often have no social behavioral function. These behaviors commonly co-occur with anxiety. We used reprimands to suppress compulsive behaviors in a 16 year-old male diagnosed with OCD. We paired reprimands with red paper and systematically reduced paper size and added a red wristband while continuing to reduce paper size. Conditioned suppression by the wristband was then generalized to a novel setting and staff. |
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