This study investigated pica behavior in those with and without autism in relation to gastrointestinal (GI) tract symptomatology and disease. A chart review of 64 residential adults with developmental disabilities indicated that individuals with pica had more GI tract diseases, and those with autism and pica had a higher rate of GI diseases compared to those with autism and no pica behavior. These data suggest that individuals with both autism and pica disorders may be a phenotypic subgroup in the autistic spectrum characterized by GI symptomatology, requiring a clinical algorithm for categorization and effective treatment. A behavior-analytic model is presented that conceptualizes pica as part of a chain of events that begins with exploratory behavior and culminates in GI symptomatology and disease. Issues of sensory processing are addressed within this model. Individuals exhibiting pica may benefit from gastrointestinal evaluation, including assessment of the microbiome, and, if indicated, microbiota transfer therapy to
While discrete trial ABA programs remain the “go to” intervention for most young children with autism, they do not make inroads for all. This paper documents important clinical gains made by such a “treatment-resistant” older youngster with severe autism by means of a biologic/nutritional approach. The possibility is raised of using these approaches synergistically.
45 mentally retarded persons (CA about 18 yr.) worked on both a two-choice discrimination task and a perseverance task under one of three reward conditions. An Idiosyncratic-choice condition, which offered trial-to-trial freedom in the selection of rewards, was expected to lead to higher levels of performance than No-choice or Initial-choice conditions. However, no reliable differences in task performance resulted from the employment of the three reward strategies. Sex and IQ predicted a posteriori performance at least as well as condition of reward. The findings are discussed in relation to “reinforcement menu” technique and incentive theory.
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