Association for Behavior Analysis International

According to the World Health Organization and the National Institute on Mental Health, mental disorders affect one in four people worldwide and have a global financial burden of approximately $2.5 trillion a year. In spite of the obvious social significance of this problem, the contribution of behavior analysis has been relatively absent for the better part of 40 years. This is not how it used to be however. The applied branch of our science is rooted in the pioneering work of behavior analysts that applied the technology in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia, depression, severe personality disorder, and other challenges commonly classified as mental disorders. This symposium will provide a brief history of Applied Behavior Analysis relationship with mental disorder, discuss ongoing obstacles to behavior analytic contributions in this area, and present several treatment models and case examples that demonstrate the efficacy of behaviour analytic technologies when applied to a variety of challenges associated with psychiatric diagnoses.

B. F. Skinner and Odgden Lindsley first replicated the free operant paradigm in humans with individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia at the Metropolitan State Hospital in Waltham, Massachusetts. Although this experimental work was not intended to be therapeutic in nature, but rather demonstrate the generality of the laws of behavior to human beings, it was foundational to the development of behavioral interventions in applied settings. Over the following 20 years behavior analysts would demonstrate the effectiveness of behaviour analytic technologies such as the token economy, contingency contracting, reinforcement and shaping procedures to improve quality of life for those diagnosed with severe and chronic mental illness. The extent of this contribution waned beginning in the 1980s, currently entering a period of near obscurity. This presentation will provide a brief history of Applied Behavior Analysis’ relationship with mental disorder, discuss ongoing obstacles to behavior analytic contributions in this area and possible reasons for the decline in interest, and finally suggest that behaviour analysts revisit their lost roots.

Aboriginal youth exposed to multiple traumatic childhood experiences are at higher risk for self-harm and suicide (Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2012). The current study describes the effects of a behavioural analytical intervention on self-harm and suicidality related behaviours for a seventeen-year old Aboriginal-Canadian female diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The youth participated in a 12-month residential program at the Marymound Mental Health and Complex Needs Centre. Following Functional Behavioural Assessment, an individualized treatment plan was implemented including the behavioural techniques: behavioural activation, behavioural contracting, token economy, functional communication training, and behavioural management of the target behaviours. During Baseline she presented with multiple suicide attempts, and daily self-harm behaviours. Results demonstrated that the youth met treatment criterion after nine months into treatment. During the course of treatment secondary behaviours such as aggressive behaviours towards others, property destruction, outbursts, and frequency of involvement with justice system all improved. Generalization and maintenance across setting have occurred. Findings of the current study have wide implications for the use of behavioural analytical intervention for self-harm and suicidality related behaviours for youth with FASD and suffering from Trauma and Stressed Related Disorder.