A CONSECUTIVE CONTROLLED CASE SERIES OF SELF-INJURIOUS BEHAVIOR MAINTAINED BY AUTOMATIC REINFORCEMENT

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) maintained by automatic reinforcement (i.e., ASIB) occur when SIB itself produces a reinforcing sensory consequence. Though SIB may be found to have an automatic function through a functional analysis (FA), further assessments might be necessary to expose an additive social function. The current study included a consecutive controlled case series to identify the assessment and treatment procedures and outcomes for ASIB and SIB both automatically and socially reinforced for clients admitted to an intensive outpatient program for behavioral intervention. Of 267 clients, 25 were included in this study based on meeting the study’s inclusion criteria. Overall, 28% of participants had an additive social function to their SIB, 88% of participants had a punishment component and 72% had a successful discharge from the program. Differences of admission and treatment outcomes between ASIB and SIB maintained by both automatic and social reinforcement are also reported.