Biological, Behavioral, and Ethical Considerations of Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Primer for Behavior Analysts

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder typically characterized by hyperphagia, hypotonia, intellectual disabilities, insistence on routines, and obsession and compulsion related to food. Although current medical interventions primarily include growth hormones to address the biological symptoms of the individual, behavioral therapy is an alternative option for skill acquisition and decreasing problem behaviors. There is a growing need for applied behavior analysis (ABA) research on targeting problem behaviors and teaching requisite skills to individuals with this syndrome. This article reviews the current literature on PWS, highlights treatments and their limitations, suggests how ABA providers can provide ethical services, and proposes future research needs with this syndrome.