A preliminary evaluation of empirically derived consequences for the treatment of pica

J Appl Behav Anal. 1994 Fall;27(3):447-57. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-447.

Abstract

Individualized treatment packages were developed for 3 children with high-rate severe pica using a discrimination training paradigm and a behavioral assessment-based procedure known as empirically derived consequences. Children received empirically derived reinforcers for eating under appropriate stimulus conditions (i.e., eating food only from a plate and placemat that served as a discriminative stimulus) and empirically derived punishers for attempts to engage in pica. This treatment package resulted in marked reductions in pica and an increase in appropriate eating for all 3 children in a "baited" analogue condition. In addition, low rates of pica were maintained for 9 months for all 3 children. These results suggest that treatment effectiveness may be enhanced when behavioral assessment data are used to identify potent consequences.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Behavior Therapy / methods*
  • Behavior Therapy / standards
  • Child, Preschool
  • Discrimination Learning*
  • Education of Intellectually Disabled / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pica / therapy*
  • Punishment
  • Reinforcement, Psychology
  • Reproducibility of Results