Functional analysis and treatment of bizarre speech.

Contingencies maintaining the bizarre speech of a 29-year-old woman with mild mental retardation and schizophrenia were analysed. 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.