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The relationship between food refusal and self-injurious behavior: a case study
M L Kerwin1, W H Ahearn, P S Eicher
1University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, USA. kerwin@rowan.edu
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
|June 17, 1998
Summary
Positive reinforcement and guidance interventions effectively increased food acceptance in a child with developmental disabilities. These strategies also reduced self-injurious behavior, improving overall outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Analysis
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Food refusal and self-injurious behavior (SIB) are common challenges in children with developmental disabilities.
- These co-occurring behaviors significantly impact a child's health, development, and quality of life.
- Early intervention is crucial for managing these complex behavioral issues.
Observation:
- A 3-year-old boy with developmental delay presented with severe food refusal and SIB.
- An alternating treatment design was employed to assess intervention effectiveness.
- SIB increased proportionally with increased food consumption, suggesting a link between feeding and self-injury.
Findings:
- Positive reinforcement for food acceptance, combined with spoon nonremoval or refusal guidance, increased food intake.
- These interventions led to a significant decrease in SIB, even though it was not the primary target.
- A comprehensive treatment including positive reinforcement, guidance, position change, and gastrojejunal feeding further reduced SIB and increased food consumption.
Implications:
- Behavioral interventions targeting food acceptance can indirectly reduce SIB in children with developmental disabilities.
- Individualized, multi-component treatment plans are essential for addressing complex feeding and behavioral challenges.
- Further research is needed to understand the intricate relationship between feeding behaviors and SIB in this population.