Graduated Exposure,Positive Reinforcement,and Stimulus Distraction in a Compliance-With-Blood-Draw Intervention for an Adult With Autism

Abstract

The authors report the case of a 21-year-old man who had autism and feared having his blood drawn as a required medical procedure. He was first exposed to simulated blood draws during a baseline phase and subsequently an intervention phase that (a) gradually exposed him to the procedures that constituted a blood draw, (b) reinforced his compliant behavior, and (c) provided stimulus distraction. He successfully completed intervention and tolerated actual blood draws 1 month and 4 months later. The authors discuss clinical and research issues when conducting intervention for medical fears among people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.