Functional Analysis and Treatment of Bizarre Speech

Author(s)

Floyd C. Mace, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Mark E. Webb
Robert W. Sharkey
Dave M. Mattson
Howard S. Rosen

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry

ISSN

0005-7916

Publication Date

12-1988

Abstract

Contingencies maintaining the bizarre speech of a 29-year-old woman with mild mental retardation and schizophrenia were analyzed. Bizarre vocalizations occurred most frequently during demand conditions and least frequently during one-to-one interaction with attention contingent upon appropriate vocalizations. Treatment conditions derived from the assessment consisted of guided compliance and ignoring plus contingent attention. Treatment effects generalized to direct-care staff in day and residential settings. Analysis of the variables controlling bizarre speech facilitated development of interventions that were predominantly positive in nature, based on the specific and unique controlling behavior-environment interactions, and that were teachable to the direct-care staff.

DOI

10.1016/0005-7916(88)90060-2

Volume

19

Issue

4

First Page

289

Last Page

296

NSUWorks Citation

Mace, F. C., Webb, M. E., Sharkey, R. W., Mattson, D. M., Rosen, H. S. (1988). Functional Analysis and Treatment of Bizarre Speech. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 19(4), 289-296.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/392