Association for Behavior Analysis International

Performance on a delay discounting task has been related to impatience, whereas performance on a probability discounting task has been related to risk-taking. Substance abusers (e.g., cigarette smokers, heroin and cocaine addicts) exhibit higher rates of delay discounting than controls. Nevertheless, the relation between delay and probability discounting and mono- and poly-drug use has received little attention. The aim of this study was to compare delay and probability discounting by cocaine-dependent participants who score high on second-drug use with those who score low on second-drug use, and by marijuana-dependent participants who score high and low on second-drug use. 144 participants (72 cocaine dependent, 42 marijuana dependent, 30 controls) chose between a smaller, immediate/certain monetary reward and a larger, delayed/probabilistic monetary reward. The amount of the immediate/certain reward was adjusted until it was judged equal in subjective value to the larger reward. Delay discounting was greater in the cocaine group than the marijuana group, but no differences were observed in probability discounting among these groups and that of controls. Correlations between degree of second-drug use and degree of discounting, as measured by area under the curve (AuC), were not statistically significant either within the cocaine-dependent or the marijuana-dependent users.

Risk taking has been identified as an important predictor of health status. Among other hazards, individuals who take higher risks are more likely to develop drug and gambling problems. The Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART; Lejuez et al., 2002) and other comparable behavioral analogues have been successfully used to estimate risk taking in adults and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of young children (N=81, 8-10 years old) on a balloon analogue task where pump responses produced points without further value. The results show that, across balloons, girls responded significantly more than boys, that all children show an exponential increase in responding throughout the session, initiate responding faster after losses, and display frequency and recency effects of losses on responding over successive balloons. With exception of the gender differences, the childrens response patterns on the balloon task were similar to those of young adults. While more research is needed, detection of extreme deviations from the general patterns observed may be valuable in identifying children at risk, and may be useful in the evaluation of preventive interventions.

More than one billion people around the world smoke tobacco. This consumption kills prematurely nearly 6 million people, causing important economic losses. (WHO, 2011). Specifically, the perspective of probabilistic and temporal discount has been used for the study of impulsivity and risk aversion. In the case of tobacco, several studies show that smokers discounted delayed rewards more than non-smokers (Baker, Johnson y Bickel, 2003; Bickel, Odum y Madden, 1999; Mitchell, 1999). Other studies suggest that abstinence or reduced consumption of tobacco can affect the discount rates of the participants. In a research conducted by Bickel, Odum, and Madden (1999) where ex-smokers, smokers and non-smokers were compared, a smaller discount was found in ex-smokers than in current smokers. The purpose of this study is compare the temporal and probabilistic discount on smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers. 20 smokers, 20 ex-smokers and 20 non-smokers participated. Fist, they answered the Fagerstrm Test for Nicotine Dependence, then, they answered a computer task, and finally, their level of carbon monoxide was measured by a breath test. A factorial design with three groups was used for each amount of reward discount probabilistic tasks, the participant made six choices for each of five established probabilities. Results showed differences in temporal and probabilistic discount in the three groups. Further studies will help to identify the controlling variables of different types of impulsivity.

From the perspective of delay discounting, preference of a small and lower value reward is considered impulsivity. Marijuana users dont have this preference for small and immediate rewards on human and animal models, in contrast to other drugs such as cigarette, cocaine, alcohol and opiates. The objective of this study was to correlate delay discounting of gains and losses (drink, activity, $200, $1500 and $3000) with anxiety and depression scores of the SCL-90 scale. The sample was composed of 31 male marijuana dependents, aged 18 to 50 years old. In the delay discounting task participants chose between a delayed gain: $ 200, $ 3000, 40 units of drink, 100 minutes of free time activity or a delayed loss: $ 1,500 and an immediate option (the magnitude varied by 50% according to election). The delay for each outcome varied in the range of 7, 30, 180, 365, 1095 days. Results showed that high levels of depression correlate significantly with low levels of area under the curve (AUC) that means more impulsiveness in the drink and $200 outcome, no significant results were found in anxiety correlation. Also the AUC scores of most marijuana users were adjusted to quasi-hyperbolic equation.

Parent behavioral training is based on empirical evidence. The objective of this paper is to identify the most effective components of a parent?s behavioral training for the acquisition of raising skills and its relations to the problematic child behavior reports in Mexican children by means of a pre-experimental study. We considered 84 volunteer parents, (of one of their children, from two to twelve years old) with a mean age of 36 years, from eight selected states of the Mexican republic according to a public health institutional quota sampling. Self-reports of child behavior change and a parent behavior? direct observation systems of child-parent interaction in simulated situations were used. The parent behavioral training program was based on eight basic child raising skills. It was observed a significant reduction of defiant oppositional and aggressive behavior mean scores, as well as a reduction in parent reported hyperactivity and inattention, ever since the behavioral training. The intervention strategies that were most effective in the program were correction, praise, clear instructions, rule establishment, problem solving, social interaction, and the reduction in punishment. To identify child raising practices associated to inadequate behavior in public health settings allows the design of effective and less costly intervention procedures.

Tobacco consumption is a public health problem both in the world and in Mexico as it is associated with chronic degenerative, irreversible, disabling and deadly diseases. According to the National Survey of Addictions (2011) 21.7 of the population aged 12-65 years is active smoker, who began daily consumption at 20.4 years on average. One of the actions that have been implemented to address this problem is early detection, focused on the application of brief interventions based on cognitive behavioral techniques. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral intervention for smoking cessation in young students. Participants were 10 college students who smoked less than 10 cigarettes daily, aged between 19-25 years. The intervention consisted of an evaluation session, four treatment sessions where self-control techniques, problem solving and gradual reduction of nicotine and tar were used. The pattern of consumption, the levels of anxiety and depression, the levels of negative and positive affect, and the level of readiness for change were obtained and compared before, during treatment and at three months follow-up. The results showed that the pattern of consumption reached abstinence in nine of the participants and one only decreased consumption. The results are discussed in terms of abstinence rates obtained at the end of treatment and at follow-up at 3 months and that set the tone for the establishment of effective strategies for early detection college.

In the international literature has demonstrated the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral treatments targeting drug users, specifically the effectiveness in terms of maintaining abstinence or reduced consumption over time. However, a problem frequently identified is the high attrition rate of the user. In various studies have identified various factors associated with treatment drop-out which are categorized into 1 patient-related factors (age, sex, education, substance use), 2. treatment factors (treatment method, scenario treatment, duration of treatment) and 3. Factors treatment process (motivation, alliance, treatment satisfaction). Therefore, the objective of this research was to identify factors associated with the desertion of a brief cognitive behavioral intervention for smoking cessation. Involving 45 people who applied for the implementation of the intervention, of whom 25 completed the program, 14 dropped and 6 were not located. The results showed that the variables associated with the drop-out were self-efficacy and level of readiness to change in the initial evaluation. The results suggest the importance of designing strategies for both smokers with low self-efficacy as low readiness to change before starting the procedure.

Anxiety is defined here as an emotional state aroused in response to some current stimulus, which in the past has been followed by a disturbing stimulus. It involves emotional, motor, physiological and cognitive components. The objective of this research is to compare the Physiological, Cognitive, and Motor anxiety between Biology, Medicine, Dentistry and Psychology university academics. It was applied to 38 voluntary university academics of both sexes, the the Inventory of Situations and Answers of Anxiety (ISRA: Tobal and Cano Vindel, 1986) evaluates the general level of anxiety, cognitive, physiological and motor components. The results demonstrated a greater level of cognitive anxiety than physiological and motor in the university academics of Biology, compared with the other professional careers. It is inferred that this would imply to recognize the importance of the effects of the anxiety in one self's perception; this is the way professors perceive and think of themselves when being evaluated for something important in their job or for a new assignment, the importance given to social critics when making mistakes, their negative attitudes toward themselves and toward others, feelings of inferiority and incompetence.

Communication delays can have detrimental effects on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families, which make communication interventions a priority for children with ASD (Stoner, Meadan, & Angell, 2013). Meadan, Meyer, Snodgrass, and Halle (2013) implemented the Internet-based Parent-implemented Communication Strategies (i-PiCS) program that provided long-distance training and coaching to parents of young children with ASD. Parents were taught to use evidence-based naturalistic teaching strategies to improve their childrens social communication skills through the i-PiCS program. Participating parents learned to implement the teaching strategies with high fidelity and some changes in their childrens communication behavior were observed. To better understand the effects of the i-PiCS program, we conducted a secondary, in-depth examination of the intervention effects within two participating families contexts. The purposes of this study were (a) to examine the characteristics of parents strategy use and (b) to examine the characteristics of childrens communication behaviors. The case study expanded the results of the original study. Each childs communicative behavior positively changed based on topography across phases (see Figures) and the mothers decreased their use of physical prompting and increased their intentional use of the strategies over time. The results of and implications from these analyses will be presented.

This study systematically replicated and extended previous research on the use of observational learning procedures to condition stimuli as effective consequences for three preschool children with autism spectrum disorders (Greer & Singer-Dudek, 2008). Independent variables consisted of an observational learning procedure and the pairing of facial emotional responses with neutral items. Dependent variables included the number of correct responses per minute on the performance task, the number of correct responses on the learning tasks, the number of correct responses in the observational learning intervention, and finally the number of attempts to access the experimental items. A secondary measure was facial emotional recognition probes. A multiple baseline across participants design was used with visual inspection for data analysis.

Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services (BHRS), also called ?wraparound?, are short-term, intensive behavioral services provided to youth with significant behavioral and/or social challenges. BHRS are intended to improve individuals? qualities of life through implementation of individualized support plans, which aim to reduce problem behaviors while teaching more appropriate, yet functionally similar, replacement skills and behaviors. The current research will evaluate effectiveness of titration of BHRS. Data collected on behaviors of three male and one female participant, ages five, six, eight, and 16, will be analyzed for this study. Each participant is a student in the School District of Philadelphia, and received 30-35 hours per week of TSS at the start of the 2014-2015 school year. After 90 days, all participants? levels of TSS will be reduced by five hours per week. Furthermore, three participants will undergo an additional 3.5-5 hours per week of titration before the close of the school year. Data collected during each phase of titration will be compared to pre-titration baseline data in order to evaluate the impact of titration on participants? behaviors and outcomes. Findings may be useful in informing individualization within titration planning for BHRS for children with autism.

Stereotypy refers to a class of behaviors that are repetitive, functionally self-directed, and self-stimulatory (Lovaas, Newsom, & Hickman, 1987). These behaviors are frequently displayed by children with autism and intellectual disabilities and are often incompatible with skill acquisition (Bodfish, Symons, Parker, & Lewis, 2000). However, for some individuals stereotypy may serve as a potent reinforcer to increase a desired behavior (Hanley, Iwata, Thompson, & Lindberg, 2000). The purpose of the current study was to increase the in-seat behavior of an 11-year-old boy diagnosed with autism during classroom time by providing him access to stereotypy contingent on in-seat behavior. While functional analyses did not reveal that problem behavior was maintained by escape from demands, Daniel was described by others as always on the go and he rarely, if ever, sat down to complete work. A differential reinforcement schedule was established whereby Daniel was provided access to stereotypy only when he was seated at a table. This treatment component, in conjunction with a systematic prompting procedure plus extinction, improved in-seat behavior and reduced aggressive behaviors. To increase compliance, blocking stereotypy when a prompt was delivered was introduced, and as a result, compliance improved. Reliability data were collected for 1/2 of the sessions and averaged above 90%.

Self-injurious behavior can be a chronic problem for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Over an extended period of time, self-injurious behaviors can produce irreversible physical damage. In addition to medical concerns, chronic self-injury can lead to social rejection, limited employment opportunities, as well as an increased risk of abuse and neglect. Although these behaviors often continue into adulthood, there is a lack of behavioral services available for these individuals once they exit the school system. While there is a significant literature base for the treatment of challenging behavior and self-injury for children, there is a need for research with adult populations. We present a review on non-pharmacological behavioral interventions for treating self-injurious behaviors in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A synthesis of the literature and implications for future research are presented.

High-probability (high-p) request sequence has been used widely as an antecedent intervention to increase compliance with medical examinations, food acceptance, transition, and social behaviors, as well as to decrease challenging behavior such as aggression and self-injury. Recent reports have suggested its effectiveness in increasing compliance when the sequence was comprised by high-p requests that were relevant to the target behavior. The present study extended previous research on four different high-p request sequences, comparing task related to non-task related sequences in combination with programmed reinforcement to increase compliance in one 6-year-old boy diagnosed with Chromosome Ring 14 syndrome. A multielement design (Figure 2) was used to compare the effects of the four high-p request sequences on participant's compliance with regard to drawing. Interobserver reliability averaged 85%; treatment integrity averaged ???100% for baseline and 92.8% (range 87.5%-100%) for the intervention phases. Results demonstrated higher compliance to the low-p request after the delivery of the task related request sequences (Figure 1) than the non-task related sequences. More specifically, the highest level of compliance occurred following the delivery of the 3 task related high-p request sequence. A social validity assessment was performed. The results and implications of the current study for applied use and future research are discussed.

Previous research has demonstrated a number of ways that staff can be taught to effectively conduct stimulus preference assessments such as Free Operant (FO), Paired Stimulus, and Multiple Stimulus Without Replacement (MSWO), Weldy, Rapp and Capicosa (2014) and Roscoe and Fisher (2008). These procedures have typically used an alternating treatments design to evaluate the effects of training on one method of conducting preference assessments on performance. In these studies experienced staff received training on one method and then the effects on both methods were evaluated. In these published studies no response generalization from one assessment condition occurred in the other assessment condition. In the current study a similar alternating treatments design was used to evaluate the effects of video modeling as a training technique (for efficiency and logistical advantages) to teach FO and MSWO assessments. However data from three subjects failed to demonstrate experimental control. This was likely due to improved performance of all subjects in both conditions after training in only one assessment procedure. These results differ from the previous studies cite above where response generalization was not observed. Results are discussed in terms of advantages of response generalization occurring and materials that may support its occurrence.