A replication and extension of the augmented competing stimulus assessment

Abstract

Augmenting competing stimulus assessments by embedding tactics to increase stimulus engagement and disrupt challenging behavior can improve outcomes of treatments for automatically maintained self-injurious behavior, even for treatment-resistant subtypes. This study replicated and extended research on augmented competing stimulus assessments by reporting outcomes for 16 consecutively encountered cases with automatically maintained self-injurious behavior (19 total applications); six participants had treatment-responsive Subtype 1 and 10 had treatment-resistant Subtypes 2 or 3. Fewer high-competition stimuli were identified for individuals with treatment-resistant subtypes. When response-promotion and disruption tactics were applied and withdrawn, outcomes improved for six of eight applications. At least one high-competition stimulus was still effective when maintenance probes were conducted for a subset of participants. Ultimately, at least one high-competition stimulus was identified for each participant. Although augmenting tactics may not be necessary for all individuals, these findings provide additional support for their efficacy with treatment-resistant self-injurious behavior.