Operant studies of self-injurious hand biting in the rett syndrome

✍ Scribed by Iwata, Brian A. ;Pace, Gary M. ;Willis, Kimberly D. ;Gamache, Thomas B. ;Hyman, Susan L. ;Opitz, John M. ;Reynolds, James F.

• Book ID: 102700682
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 586 KB
• Volume: 25
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0148-7299
• DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.1320250518

✦ Synopsis

TWO children with Rett syndrome were treated for their self-injurious hand biting. showed that in both cases the behavior functioned as a self-sthulatory response. Differential reinforcement, combined with a response interruption technique, produced large reductions in the hand biting of both girls and increases in the motor performance (instruction following, toy play) of one girl. These results suggest that further operant investigations may be helpful in the understanding and management of the behavioral symptoms found in Rett syndrome.

Results of an operant assessment

Introduction

One of the most notable behavioral characteristics of Rett syndrome is the presence of hand "stereotypies," which may include "ritualistic wringing, " licking, sucking, and biting actions. These behaviors have been observed in Keywords: conditioning Rett syndrome, self-injurious behavior, operant Address reprint requests to Brian A. Iwata, Center for the Study and Treatment of Self-Injury,