BRIEF FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES TO EVALUATE ABERRANT BEHAVIOR IN AN OUTPATIENT SETTING: A SUMMARY OF 79 CASES

TLDR

Brief functional assessment procedures have been used to analyze maintaining conditions for aberrant behaviors, including in our Self‑Injurious and Aggressive Behavior Service outpatient clinic. The study provides a descriptive summary of 79 cases over a three‑year period. Brief assessments were evaluated across referring topography, behavioral control via brief multielement designs, and identified maintaining contingencies. The study discusses limitations and future utility of brief functional assessments for identifying distinct maintaining contingencies.

Abstract

Previous investigators have analyzed the maintaining conditions for aberrant behaviors using brief functional assessment procedures. These assessment procedures have been used in one of our outpatient clinics, the Self‐Injurious and Aggressive Behavior Service. This study presents a descriptive summary of the results from 79 cases during a 3‐year period. The outcomes of the brief assessment were evaluated across three variables: (a) referring topography, (b) control over behavior as evaluated through brief multielement designs, and (c) the identified maintaining conditions for aberrant behavior. The limitations and future utility of brief functional assessments for identifying distinct maintaining contingencies are discussed.