The use of negative practice for the control of pica behavior

• Published in: Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 249 - 253
• Main Authors: Duker, Pieter C., Nielen, Monique
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.1993; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Behavior Therapy - methods; Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Education of Intellectually Disabled; Female; Humans; Intellectual Disability - psychology; Medical sciences; Pica; Pica - psychology; Pica - therapy; Practice (Psychology); Prader-Willi Syndrome - psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Reinforcement (Psychology); Treatment; Treatments; Endocrinopathy; Human; Treatment efficiency; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Nutrition disorder; Mental retardation; Prader Labhard Willi syndrome; Behavioral disorder; Case study; Pica; Intellectual deficiency; Adult; Complication; Behavior therapy
• ISSN: 0005-7916; 1873-7943
• DOI: 10.1016/0005-7916(93)90028-U

The treatment of a 33-year-old female disabled by mental retardation and Prader-Willi syndrome who exhibited pica is described. Negative practice was administered following each occurence of the target behavior, that is, biting off and chewing on inedible objects. Data were collected within a reversal design. The results indicated that pica was reduced to a near zero level. Follow-up data collected after 7 months while the procedure was continued revealed a sustained suppression of pica.