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The efficacy of positive behavioural support with the most challenging behaviour: the evidence and its implications
Gary W LaVigna1, Thomas J Willis
1Institute for Applied Behavior Analysis, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA. glavigna@iaba.com
Background:
Positive behaviour support (PBS) is behaviour analysis applied in support of people with challenging behaviour. Questions have been raised as to PBS effectiveness, costs, and accessibility.
Method:
Outcome studies meeting specified criteria for PBS were selected for review. All told, 12 outcome studies encompassing 423 cases were included.
Results:
This review showed that PBS was effective with both severe and high-rate behaviour problems, was cost-effective, used a methodology that was easily trained and widely disseminated, and worked in institutional settings in which the most difficult problems are thought to be, as well as in the community.
Conclusions:
The major implication of this review is that practitioners may be obligated to use PBS when faced with the need to develop a plan of support given the ethical principle of using the least restrictive method consistent with the right to effective treatment.
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