The present investigation utilized a modified differential reinforcement of other behaviors (DRO) schedule with an exclusionary time-out procedure to treat a sixty-nine year-old aggressive male. Dependent measures included confirmed incidents of physical and verbal aggressive behavior monitored across an ABAB design with a four month follow-up. During the experimental conditions, contingent tangible reinforcers were provided for non-aggressive behavior. Such rewards were progressively diminished over the course of treatment utilizing a systematic fading scheme. Results indicated a clear demonstration of behavioral control and clinically significant treatment effects during both experimental periods. Implications for future research are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
PattersonR. L. and JacksonG. M., Behavior Modification with the Elderly, in Progress in Behavior Modification, Volume 9, HersenM.EislerR. M., and MillerP. M. (eds.), Academic Press, New York, NY, pp. 205–239, 1980.
2.
RosbergerZ. and MacLeanJ., Behavioral Assessment and Treatment of Organic Behaviors in an Institutionalized Geriatric Patient, International Journal of Behavioral Geriatrics, 1, pp. 33–36, 1983.
3.
HoffmanH., Personality Patterns of Depression and Its Relation to Acquiescence, Psychological Reports, 26, pp. 459–464, 1970.
4.
AronsonM. K., The Acting-Out Elderly: An Overview, in The Acting-Out Elderly, AronsonM. K.BennettR., and GurlandB. J. (eds.), Haworth Press, New York, NY, pp. 1–14, 1983.
5.
WeinerM. B., Reflections on the Hard-to-Manage Elderly, in The Acting-Out Elderly, AronsonM. K.BennettR., and GurlandB. J. (eds.), Haworth Press, New York, NY, pp. 79–84, 1983.
6.
HussianR. A., Behavioral Geriatrics, in Progress in Behavior Modification, Volume 16, Academic Press, New York, NY, pp. 159–183, 1984.
7.
HarrisC. S., Fact Book on Aging: A Profile of America's Older Population, National Council on the Aging, Washington, D.C., 1978.
8.
LinnM. W. and LinnB. S., Assessing Activities of Daily Living in Institutional Settings, in Assessment in Geriatric Psychopharmacology, CrookT.FerrisM., and BartusR. (eds.), Mark Powley, New Canaan, CT, pp. 97–110, 1983.
9.
VladeckB., Unloving Care: The Nursing Home Tragedy, Basic Books, New York, NY, 1980.
10.
HollisterL., Prescribing Drugs for the Elderly, Geriatrics, 32, pp. 71–77, 1977.
11.
HussianR. A., Geriatric Psychology: A Behavioral Perspective, Van Nostrand, Princeton, NJ, 1981.
12.
LeberP., Establishing the Efficacy of Drugs with Psychogeriatric Indications, in Assessment in Geriatric Psychopharmacology, CrookT.FerrisM., and BartusR. (eds.), Mark Powley, New Canaan, CT, pp. 1–12, 1983.
13.
ButlerR. N. and LewisM. I., Aging and Mental Health: Positive, Psychological, and Biomedical Approaches, 3rd edition, C. V. Mosby, St. Louis, MO, 1982.
14.
HomerA. L. and PetersonL., Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior: A Preferred Response Elimination Procedure, Behavior Therapy, 11, pp. 449–471, 1980.
15.
HallR. V. and HallM. C., How to Use Time Out, H&H Enterprises, Lawrence, KS, 1980.
16.
EdgingtonE. S., Random Assignment and Statistical Tests for One-Subject Experiments, Behavioral Assessment, 2, pp. 19–28, 1980.
17.
BarlowD. H. and HersenM., Single Case Experimental Designs: Strategies for Studying Behavior Change, 2nd edition, Pergamon, New York, NY, 1981.
18.
RimmA. C. and MastersJ. C., Behavior Therapy: Techniques and Empirical Findings, 2nd edition, Academic Press, New York, NY, 1979.
19.
KazdinA. E., Behavioral Observation, in Behavioral Assessment: A Practical Handbook, 2nd edition, HersenM. and BellackA. S. (eds.), Pergamon Press, New York, NY, pp. 76–87, 1981.
20.
HallR. V.PriceA. B.ShindlingM.PeizerS. B. and MasseyR. H., Control of Aggressive Behavior Using Positive and Negative Reinforcement Procedures, Human Development, 16, pp. 179–186, 1973.
21.
BotwinickJ., Aging and Behavior: A Comprehensive Integration of Research Findings, 3rd edition, Springer, New York, NY, 1984.
22.
KrasnerL. and UllmanL. P. (eds.), Research in Behavior Modification, Holt, New York, NY, 1965.
23.
AyllonT. and AzrinN. H., The Token Economy: A Motivational System for Therapy and Rehabilitation, Appleton, New York, NY, 1968.
24.
HaynesS. N., Principles of Behavioral Assessment, Gardner Press, New York, NY, 1978.
25.
KalishR. A., From Behavioral Science to Behavior Modification, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, 1981.
