Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
08:28
Novel Object Exploration as a Potential Assay for Higher Order Repetitive Behaviors in Mice
Published on: August 20, 2016
Evidence-based behavioral interventions for repetitive behaviors in autism
Brian A Boyd1, Stephen G McDonough, James W Bodfish
1Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB# 7122, Bondurant Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7120, USA. brian_boyd@med.unc.edu
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|May 18, 2011
Summary
Interventions for restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are limited, especially for higher-order behaviors. This review discusses barriers and evidence-based treatments for RRBs in ASD.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are a core symptom of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
- Current research on RRBs in ASD predominantly focuses on phenomenology and underlying mechanisms.
- The development of interventions for RRBs in ASD lags behind other research areas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss barriers to intervention development for RRBs in ASD.
- To review evidence-based interventions for RRBs in ASD, with a specific emphasis on higher-order behaviors.
- To provide recommendations for clinical practice and future research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on RRBs in ASD.
- Analysis of barriers hindering intervention development for RRBs.
- Synthesis of evidence-based interventions, distinguishing between lower-order and higher-order RRBs.
Main Results:
- Evidence-based practices exist for lower-order RRBs (e.g., stereotypies) in ASD.
- A significant gap exists in intervention research for higher-order RRBs (e.g., insistence on sameness) in ASD.
- Barriers to intervention development include conceptual and methodological challenges.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need for focused intervention research on higher-order RRBs in ASD.
- Addressing barriers is essential for advancing treatment options.
- Recommendations are provided to guide both clinical practice and future research directions.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Operant Conditioning Intervention
Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:21Behavior Modification
Behavioral approaches have often been criticized for ignoring mental processes and focusing solely on observable behavior. However, these approaches provide an optimistic perspective for individuals seeking to change their behaviors. Rather than concentrating on intrinsic personality traits, behavioral approaches suggest that even longstanding habits can be modified by changing the reward contingencies that maintain them.
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
01:22Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
01:24Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert Ellis's...