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The Role of Functional Assessment in Treatment Planning for Challenging Behavior
Book chapter

The Role of Functional Assessment in Treatment Planning for Challenging Behavior

Kelly M. Schieltz and Wendy K. Berg
Functional Assessment for Challenging Behaviors and Mental Health Disorders, pp.349-384
Autism and Child Psychopathology Series, Springer International Publishing
03/27/2021
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-66270-7_13

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Abstract

Functional assessments, such as the functional analysis, provide useful information for identifying the function(s) of challenging behavior. Clinically, their results are often important for the subsequent development of treatment plans. For example, treatment plans for challenging behavior based on reinforcement typically include the provision of the identified functional reinforcer for desired behavior and extinction (withholding the functional reinforcer) for challenging behavior. Thus, the results of functional assessments and specifically functional analysis have led to a substantial increase in the use of reinforcement procedures to treat challenging behavior (Pelios et al., J Appl Behav Anal 32:185–195, 1999). For example, functional communication training (Carr and Durand, J Appl Behav Anal 18:111–126, 1985), a treatment based on differential reinforcement, is currently the most common treatment used to treat challenging behavior (Tiger et al., Behav Anal Pract 1:16–23, 2008). Although treatment plans based exclusively on the identified function of challenging behavior can be effective, there are cases in which additional information is needed to guide or alter the treatment plan (e.g., to promote maintenance). In this chapter, we describe assessment procedures for identifying additional consequence and antecedent variables associated with challenging behavior and discuss how the results from these assessments may supplement the results of functional assessments in developing or modifying treatment plans.
Challenging behavior Functional analysis Functional assessment Reinforcement Treatment planning

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