Functional Assessment in Forensic Settings: A Valuable Tool for Preventing and Treating Egregious Behavior

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Ivanoff ◽  
Henry Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Functional Assessment ◽  
Clinical Case ◽  
Forensic Assessment ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Case Conceptualization ◽  
Mentally Disordered ◽  
Scarce Resources ◽  
Target Behaviors ◽  
Chain Analysis ◽  
Controlling Variables

Forensic agencies and institutions are charged with treating the most socially disruptive and mentally disordered individuals while securing public safety. Egregious behaviors in these settings demand immediate response and scarce resources. Functional assessment, sometimes used synonymously with functional or behavioral analysis, is presented as a cornerstone tool to help identify targets for intervention and hypothesize causal behavioral connections. Using an interactive chain analysis approach, the temporal sequence of behavior is examined across domains with an emphasis on obtaining operational knowledge about the functions and controlling variables of target behaviors. A clinical case example is used to illustrate the potential contribution of FA in forensic assessment and case conceptualization.

Conducting Effective Behavioural and Solution Analyses

2018 ◽  
pp. 258-282
Author(s):  
Sara J. Landes
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Functional Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Learning Problem ◽  
Problem Behaviour ◽  
Behavioural Treatment ◽  
Chain Analysis ◽  
Controlling Variables

This chapter outlines the components of BCA and how to utilize it effectively in DBT. As a third wave behavioural treatment, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) has its roots in behaviourism. As such, one of the critical strategies in DBT is functional assessment. Behavioural chain analysis (BCA), or chain analysis, is a functional assessment tool used in DBT. BCA helps the therapist and client collaboratively understand all of the steps that led to a problem behaviour (i.e., prompting events, thoughts, emotions) and the consequences that followed. Understanding these controlling variables allows for identification of solutions and learning problem solving. While this functional assessment is not unique to DBT, other nuances described in this chapter are more specific to DBT, such as the focus on emotion and the use of the therapist as a source of reinforcement.

Atypical Eating Disorders and Specific Phobia of Vomiting

2017 ◽  
pp. 270-290
Author(s):  
Alexandra Keyes ◽  
David Veale
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Disordered Eating ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Food Restriction ◽  
Clinical Case ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Specific Phobia ◽  
Case Conceptualization

Some individuals with specific phobia of vomiting (SPOV) (emetophobia) may present with disordered eating, including food restriction and weight loss. Such cases may be misdiagnosed as anorexia nervosa (AN), thus complicating case conceptualization, formulation, and treatment. This chapter outlines the clinical features of SPOV, including those that overlap with AN and other disorders. Treatment approaches and their evidence base are discussed, and a clinical case example of an individual with SPOV and disordered eating is presented. More research is needed to address the overlap between eating disorders and SPOV in order to better distinguish overlaps in presentation and to develop treatments that effectively target the central fears in these cases.

Reductive Interventions

2019 ◽  
pp. 286-307
Author(s):  
Daniel D. Drevon ◽  
Michael D. Hixson
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Problem Behaviors ◽  
Functional Assessment ◽  
Positive Interventions ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Target Behaviors ◽  
Social Initiations ◽  
The Individual ◽  
General Education Classrooms ◽  
Chronic Problem

Schools ordinarily support establishing or increasing target behaviors, for example, increasing the number of letter sounds mastered or the frequency of social initiations; however, supporting the reduction of target behaviors is also an important goal of behavior analytic practice in schools. Although numerous target behaviors may warrant functional assessment and subsequent reduction at the individual level (e.g., aggression, self-injurious behavior), this chapter focuses on describing the implementation of and research outcomes related to reductive interventions designed to help teachers decrease disruptive, inappropriate, off-task, or problem behavior in general education classrooms. Reductive interventions describe strategies that explicitly target reduced levels of a target behavior. These interventions may be implemented to address chronic problem behaviors that may have been unresponsive to other positive interventions. The chapter describes various reductive strategies that may be implemented at a Tier I level, such as time-out, think time, and structured recess.

Republication of “Functional Analysis of Classroom Variables for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders”

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 322-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen Dunlap ◽  
Lee Kern ◽  
Maria dePerczel ◽  
Shelley Clarke ◽  
Diane Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Analysis ◽  
Behavioral Disorders ◽  
Functional Assessment ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Behavioral Support ◽  
Target Behaviors ◽  
Classroom Activities ◽  
School Programs ◽  
Functional Analyses ◽  
Improved Methods

Functional assessment and functional analysis are processes that have been applied successfully in work with people who have developmental disabilities, but they have been used rarely with students who experience emotional or behavioral disorders. In the present study, five students in elementary school programs for severe emotional disturbance participated in a comprehensive functional assessment process designed to yield a useful understanding of their desirable and undesirable behaviors. Interviews, record reviews, and direct classroom observations led to the development of individualized hypotheses regarding relationships between classroom events and the occurrence of target behaviors. Subsequently, direct manipulations (i.e., functional analyses) were conducted to test each of the hypotheses in the context of regularly-occurring classroom activities. These analyses demonstrate important influences that certain classroom variables can exert over individual student’s behavior. The process and results are discussed with regard to the need for improved methods for understanding student responding, and the benefits that functional assessment can offer programs of educational and behavioral support.

scholarly journals ULTRASOUND CONTRAST-ENHANCED STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY WITH MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION FOR FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF INTERMEDIATE STENOSIS IN THE LEFT ANTERIOR DESCENDING CORONARY ARTERY IN PATIENT WITH PREMATURE VENTRICULAR COMPLEXE

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-144
Author(s):  
I. S. Bessonov ◽  
D. V. Krinochkin ◽  
V. A. Kuznetsov ◽  
A. O. Dyakova ◽  
N. Y. Khorkova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Myocardial Perfusion ◽  
Functional Assessment ◽  
Stress Echocardiography ◽  
Clinical Case ◽  
Arterial Diameter ◽  
Premature Ventricular Complexes ◽  
Ultrasound Contrast ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Potential Benefits

The presence of the intermediate stenosis (30 to 50% of arterial diameter) according to coronary angiography in patients with premature ventricular complexes often represents a complicated clinical task and requires additional confirmation of myocardial ischemia. The present clinical case demonstrates the opportunities and potential benefits of contrast-enhanced stress echocardiography with assessment of myocardial perfusion in diagnosing the hemodynamic significance of the intermediate lesion of the left anterior descending artery in patient with premature ventricular complexes.

scholarly journals ULTRASOUND CONTRAST-ENHANCED STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY WITH MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION FOR FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF INTERMEDIATE STENOSIS IN THE LEFT ANTERIOR DESCENDING CORONARY ARTERY IN PATIENT WITH PREMATURE VENTRICULAR COMPLEXE

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-144
Author(s):  
I. S. Bessonov ◽  
D. V. Krinochkin ◽  
V. A. Kuznetsov ◽  
A. O. Dyakova ◽  
N. Y. Khorkova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Myocardial Perfusion ◽  
Functional Assessment ◽  
Stress Echocardiography ◽  
Clinical Case ◽  
Arterial Diameter ◽  
Premature Ventricular Complexes ◽  
Ultrasound Contrast ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Potential Benefits

The presence of the intermediate stenosis (30 to 50% of arterial diameter) according to coronary angiography in patients with premature ventricular complexes often represents a complicated clinical task and requires additional confirmation of myocardial ischemia. The present clinical case demonstrates the opportunities and potential benefits of contrast-enhanced stress echocardiography with assessment of myocardial perfusion in diagnosing the hemodynamic significance of the intermediate lesion of the left anterior descending artery in patient with premature ventricular complexes.

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