Background: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) affect a significant number of children in this country. This article addresses diagnostic issues related to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and other alcohol-related disabilities, discusses associated features and behaviors of FASD, and introduces interventions to support children with FASD in…

Five case studies illustrate the use of generalized compliance training with students who have severe behavior problems. Based on extinction and generalization processes, the approach consists of five phases: (1) assessment to determine the nature and severity of noncompliance; (2)initial instruction demonstrating the consequences of compliance…

Thirty-four studies were analyzed according to students involved, setting, procedures, target behaviors, accommodations for hearing impairment, evaluation, and place of publication. Comparison of the students supported the conclusions that although frequent behavior modifications have not been specifically adapted for hearing-impaired students,…

A contingency contract program was implemented in this study to determine the effects of contingency contracting on decreasing student tardiness in high school classrooms. The participants were 32 high school students. Of the 32 participants, 16 were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the other 16 to the control group. The…

Studies employing applied behavior analysis procedures with learning disabled children are reviewed in terms of the dependent variables being measured and the independent variables being manipulated. The authors conclude that very few of the studies contribute to a systematically obtained body of knowledge regarding the various dimensions of…

Behavior modification programs undertaken in institutions for mentally retarded persons are often done inconsistently or incorrectly. Initial remedies should emphasize basic principles of applied behavioral analysis in graudate training and the development of programs addressing more than simple reinforcement contingencies. (CL)

Behavioral approaches to the treatment of obese mentally retarded individuals are reviewed. Studies are examined regarding the level of mental retardation, age group, techniques employed, and weight lost at the end of treatment. Conclusions relate implications for practitioners, as well as future research concerns. (Author)

The article reviews definitions, examples and techniques for implementing prompting and fading techniques with handicapped individuals. A review is also made of the research evidence describing the effectiveness of various methods of prompting: verbal, gesture, modeling, physical, combination, test-teach, and both within and extrastimulus…

An integration of Adlerian and social constructionist ideas, the reflecting "as if" technique asks clients to take a reflective step backward to consider perceptual and behavioral alternatives as a prelude to their acting as if they were the couple they desire to be. This article describes the reflecting as if technique and provides a…

Describes technique known as symptom induction and de-escalation for panic attacks in which goal is to reproduce the type of situation that may precipitate an attack and then to show the client how the attacks can be "turned on" as well as "turned off." (ABL)

Treated 32 outpatient depressives using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Classified subjects as CBT responders (n=22) or nonresponders (n=10) on basis of independent clinical ratings of Hamilton depressive severity. At posttreatment, responders shifted balance of positivity and negativity to optimal range, whereas nonresponders remained in…

Using "principled pragmatism," this article summarizes some of the ways in which new knowledge concerning behavior therapy with couples can be used to reshape intervention strategy and tactics. Identifies principles that have stood the test of time, and suggests ways in which those that did not fare as well can be updated. (Author/MKA)

Examines the effects of the Mystery Motivator, a behavioral contract designed to remediate bedtime problems by delivering random reinforcement. Three adults and their four children participated. Three children showed substantial changes in both time out of bed and bedtime noncompliance. The fourth child showed less improvement. (Author/MKA)

Behavior-reduction interventions typically employ dense schedules of alternative reinforcement in conjunction with operant extinction for problem behavior. After problem behavior is reduced in the initial treatment stages, schedule thinning is routinely conducted to make the intervention more practical in natural environments. In the current…

In the current investigation, we evaluated the relative effects of noncontingent reinforcement (NCR), escape extinction, and a combination of NCR and escape extinction as treatment for the feeding problems exhibited by 4 children. For each participant, consumption increased only when escape extinction was implemented, independent of whether NCR…