How to behave ethically in a world of fads

Schreck, Kimberly A.; Miller, Victoria A.

doi:10.1002/bin.305

Cited by 27 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…These sources were chosen because they utilized rigorous scientific criteria (e.g., strength of methodology, research design, etc.) to classify the research‐based effectiveness of each of the autism treatments (see Schreck & Miller, for the examples of criteria for judging treatment effectiveness).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given both the range of treatment options and the continuum of supporting evidence, scientifically trained professionals have attempted to write consensus publications to summarize this research on treatments for people with autism (e.g., Jacobson, Foxx, & Mulick, ; National Autism Center, ; Richdale & Schreck, ; Romanczyk et al, ). Schreck and Miller () developed an ethical decision‐making mechanism to assist professionals in following recommendations from these publications. These sources have not seemed to reduce the use of alternative and fad treatments for people with autism.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Autism Treatments in Print: Media's Coverage of Scientifically Supported and Alternative Treatments

Schreck

Russell

Vargas

2013

Behavioral Interventions

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Professionals, celebrities, and media frequently suggest to parents the possible treatment options for their children with autism. Some treatment recommendations advocate for scientifically supported treatments whereas others suggest novel, untested interventions, or potentially ineffective or harmful treatments. The current study examined the print media's coverage of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and nonscientifically supported autism treatments. Over the last 10 years, print media have increasingly published articles referring to autism treatments with little scientific support and a decreased coverage of ABA. Print media's positive statements about non-scientifically supported treatments also increased over the last decade, whereas positive statements about ABA decreased. ABA received two times as many positive comments as negative; however, non-scientifically supported treatments as a group received four times as many positive comments as negative. These results could contribute to parents' decisions to implement treatments for their children with autism. To contribute to future positive perception of ABA, we provided suggestions for the dissemination of information to increase positive reporting of ABA in print media.Once autism treatments were selected and classified, keywords related to each treatment to be used for database searches of representative newspaper and magazine articles were determined. Several references providing comprehensive and detailed treatment descriptions were used (Freeman, 2007;Jacobson et al., 2005; New York State Department of Health, Early Intervention Program, 1999;Richdale & Schreck, 2008;Romanczyk et al., 2008) to obtain synonyms or abbreviations (e.g., sensory integration training = SIT and auditory integration training = AIT), methodological descriptions (e.g., SIT = swinging and applied behavior analysis = ABA), and treatment instruments (e.g., SIT = scooter and facilitated communication = letter board) for keyword selection. To be included as a keyword, each of the synonyms, methodological descriptions, or treatment instruments must have been associated with the treatments in ≥2 of the reference sources. Words that contained roots of the keywords were included (e.g., chelator and chelating were counted as chelation). Words were excluded if they were listed in only one source. Although early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) was not mentioned in ≥2 of the reference sources, EIBI was included as a search term to provide a possible mechanism for increasing the possible print media coverage of ABA. No additional articles or keyword mentions were found for EIBI. Consequently, the scientifically supported keywords were limited to the keywords and synonyms listed in ≥2 of the previously mentioned references. Table 1 includes a complete list of the keywords for each autism treatment.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Autism Treatments in Print: Media's Coverage of Scientifically Supported and Alternative Treatments

Schreck

Russell

Vargas

2013

Behavioral Interventions

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“…When discussing occupational therapy, the ABA literature seems to focus on occupational therapists' use of sensory integration approaches (Devlin, Healy, Leader, & Hughes, 2011;Matson, Adams, Williams, & Rieske, 2013;McGinnis, Blakely, Harvey, Hodges, & Rickards, 2013;Schreck & Miller, 2010) and illustrates a somewhat conflicted perception. On the one hand, a number of ABA therapists report using sensory integration in their practice (Schreck & Miller, 2010). On the other hand, articles can be found that warn ABA therapists against this practice (Devlin et al, 2011;Matson et al, 2013;Schreck & Miller, 2010).…”

Section: Understanding the Differencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the one hand, a number of ABA therapists report using sensory integration in their practice (Schreck & Miller, 2010). On the other hand, articles can be found that warn ABA therapists against this practice (Devlin et al, 2011;Matson et al, 2013;Schreck & Miller, 2010). This tension highlighted in the ABA literature is echoed in the broader autism literature, which frames sensory integration therapy as complementary or alternative medicine (Hanson et al, 2007) and occasionally references the policy statement issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics that urges physicians to advise patients and parents that the evidence of effectiveness for sensory-based therapies is limited and inconclusive (Zimmer & Desch, 2012).…”

Section: Understanding the Differencementioning

confidence: 99%

Applied Behavior Analysis, Autism, and Occupational Therapy: A Search for Understanding

Welch

Polatajko

2016

The American Journal of Occupational Therapy

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Occupational therapists strive to be mindful, competent practitioners and continuously look for ways to improve practice. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) has strong evidence of effectiveness in helping people with autism achieve goals, yet it does not seem to be implemented in occupational therapy practice. To better understand whether ABA could be an evidence-based option to expand occupational therapy practice, the authors conducted an iterative, multiphase investigation of relevant literature. Findings suggest that occupational therapists apply developmental and sensory approaches to autism treatment. The occupational therapy literature does not reflect any use of ABA despite its strong evidence base. Occupational therapists may currently avoid using ABA principles because of a perception that ABA is not client centered. ABA principles and occupational therapy are compatible, and the two could work synergistically.

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“…Despite the new Compliance codes , we and parents have reported the continued use of nonempirically supported treatments by BCBAs and BCBA‐Ds (Miller, Schreck, Mulick, & Butter, ). Use of these treatments appeared to continue regardless of the availability of classification systems, guidelines, and manuscripts to help professionals navigate through the array of treatment options available for autism (Jacobson, Foxx, & Mulick, ; National Autism Center, ; Richdale & Schreck, ; Schreck & Miller, ).…”

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confidence: 99%

Behavior Analysts' Use of and Beliefs in Treatments for People with Autism: A 5‐Year Follow‐up

Schreck

Karunaratne

Zane

et al. 2016

Behavioral Interventions

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As autism prevalence rises, parents of children with autism rely upon professionals to recommend the most effective treatment for their children. Historically, these professionals have chosen a range of treatments from empirically supported to nonempirically supported treatments. This study replicated and extended that work by surveying Board Certified Behavior Analysts to determine what treatments they promoted and used. Results showed that although most respondents used evidence‐based, behavioral procedures, many did not. Influential stimuli most likely to contribute to behavior analysts' choices of treatments were beliefs in effectiveness, ease of implementation, and persuasion by others. Self‐reported reinforcers for treatment use included perceived observed success, praise from others, and financial gain. Behavior analysts continue to use a variety of nonscientifically supported treatments, including those that have been deemed ineffective and harmful to people with autism. Future training of Board Certified Behavior Analysts must stress adherence to the ethical code for certified behavior analysts, adherence to data‐based decision‐making, and strict fealty to the scientific process in which all behavior analysts have been trained. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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How to behave ethically in a world of fads

Cited by 27 publications

References 31 publications

Autism Treatments in Print: Media's Coverage of Scientifically Supported and Alternative Treatments

Autism Treatments in Print: Media's Coverage of Scientifically Supported and Alternative Treatments

Applied Behavior Analysis, Autism, and Occupational Therapy: A Search for Understanding

Behavior Analysts' Use of and Beliefs in Treatments for People with Autism: A 5‐Year Follow‐up

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