Behavioral Treatment of Challenging Behaviors in Individuals With Mild Mental Retardation: Meta-Analysis of Single-Subject Research

Abstract

A meta-analytic study on effectiveness of behavioral and psychotherapeutic treatments for challenging behaviors in individuals with mild mental retardation is reported. Eighty articles were examined. For each comparison, several study variables and two effect sizes (percentage of nonoverlapping data-PND and percentage of zero data-PZD) were evaluated (Ms = 75% and 35%, respectively). Studies in which experimental designs and methods of experimental functional analysis were used had significantly larger PNDs than those with AB designs and descriptive methods, respectively. Functional analysis, reliability of recording, generalization, and internally valid designs resulted in larger PZDs. We found that behavioral interventions for challenging behaviors are effective with people with mild mental retardation.

Efficacy of behavioral interventions for reducing problem behavior in persons with autism: An updated quantitative synthesis of single-subject research

“…This conclusion corresponds to the findings of other meta-analyses published in this domain: Behavioral treatments are on average effective in reducing problem behavior in individuals with autism (e.g., Didden et al, 2006;Harvey et al, 2009;Heyvaert, Maes, & Onghena, 2010;Heyvaert, Maes, Van den Noortgate, Kuppens, & Onghena, 2012;Heyvaert, Saenen, Maes, & Onghena, 2014;Scotti et al, 1991;Vanderkerken, Heyvaert, Maes, & Onghena, 2013). However, for PZD the mean averages at the participant and study level indicated questionable treatment effects.…”

Comparing the percentage of non-overlapping data approach and the hierarchical linear modeling approach for synthesizing single-case studies in autism research

“…The variable Functional analysis/assessment provides an indication of the degree of quality of the behavioral intervention: Planning and conducting a solid functional analysis or assessment provides information on the function or the meaning of the challenging behavior, which can be taken into account when developing and conducting the intervention. This finding corresponds to the findings of the SCED meta-analyses of Campbell (2003), Didden et al (2006), and Harvey et al (2009).…”

“…According to the Wald test included in the HLM approach, this reduction in challenging behavior was statistically significant. These PND and HLM findings correspond to the findings of other meta-analyses published in the domain of persons with disabilities: Behavioral interventions are on average effective in reducing challenging behavior in individuals with disabilities (Didden, Korzilius, van Oorsouw, & Sturmey, 2006;Harvey, Boer, Meyer, & Evans, 2009;Heyvaert, Maes, & Onghena, 2010;Heyvaert, Maes, Van den Noortgate, Kuppens, & Onghena, 2012;Heyvaert, Saenen, Maes, & Onghena, 2014b;Vanderkerken et al, 2013). Nonetheless, based on the likelihood ratio test included in the HLM approach, we found that the intervention effects varied significantly over the participants and studies included in the dataset.…”

Treatment of Psychopathology in People with Intellectual and other Disabilities

“…Several meta-analyses have identified ABA as an evidence-based practice to treat maladaptive behaviour and psychiatric disorders 24,25 in people with mild disabilities. 26 Meta-analyses have also established ABA as an effective or promising treatment for problem behaviour, such as SIB, [27][28][29] pica, 30 fear, and phobic avoidance. 31 Jennett and Hagopian 31 conducted a systematic review of treatments of phobic avoidance in people with IDs.…”