Millichap David, Oliver Chris, McQuillan Sharna, Kalsy Sunny, Lloyd Vicki, Hall Scott
School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK.
Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2003 Sep;18(9):844-54. doi: 10.1002/gps.930.
The study examined the hypothesis that a functional relationship exists between social environmental events and behavioral excesses in individuals with Down syndrome and dementia.
A case-series design was employed (n = 4) using an direct observation-based descriptive functional assessment procedure.
Observations were conducted in the natural environments of four participants over periods ranging from 11 to 15.4 hours. Data were collected on non-verbal and verbal behavioral excesses, appropriate engagement and verbal interaction with others. Social environmental events observed including both staff and peer behavior.
Analysis of co-occurrence for behavioral excesses and social environmental events indicated significant relationships for some behaviours consistent with operant reinforcement processes. Sequential analysis showed that changes in the probability of social contact occurred in the period directly preceding and following verbal behaviors.
Results support the hypothesis that, consistent with literature for older adults with dementia in the general population, some behavioral excesses were functional in nature and not randomly occurring events. No relationship was found between appropriate engagement and staff contact. Evidence of the functional nature of target behavioral excesses indicates that behavioral interventions have potential for this client group.
本研究检验了以下假设：唐氏综合征和痴呆症患者的社会环境事件与行为过度之间存在功能关系。
采用病例系列设计（n = 4），使用基于直接观察的描述性功能评估程序。
在四名参与者的自然环境中进行观察，观察时长从11小时到15.4小时不等。收集有关非言语和言语行为过度、与他人的适当参与和言语互动的数据。观察到的社会环境事件包括工作人员和同伴的行为。
对行为过度与社会环境事件的共现分析表明，某些行为与操作性强化过程存在显著关系。序列分析表明，在言语行为之前和之后的时间段内，社会接触的概率发生了变化。
结果支持以下假设，即与一般人群中患有痴呆症的老年人的文献一致，一些行为过度本质上具有功能性，而非随机发生的事件。未发现适当参与与工作人员接触之间存在关系。目标行为过度具有功能性的证据表明，行为干预对该客户群体具有潜力。
