The use of noncontingent reinforcement and contingent restraint to reduce physical aggression and self injurious behaviour in a traumatically brain injured adult

Abstract

Many different intervention programmes for reducing undesirable behaviour with people with trau matic brain injury TBI have been investigated in recent years. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential of using noncontingent reinforcement NCR in combination with contingent restraint to reduce severe behaviour. The subject E.L. was a 40 year old male with TBI admitted to a rehabilitation long term care programme. E.L. had a history of physical aggression PA and self injurious behaviour SIB. Assessment conditions included a descriptive analysis, response scatterplot and Self Injury Trauma SIT Scale. Attention was identified as the maintaining positive reinforcement for PA and SIB. Treatment conditions were compared using a reversal ABAB design. Attention NCR was delivered on a fixed time schedule that was not dependent on the subject s behaviour. Contingent restraint was applied when E.L. exhibited PA or SIB that was dangerous to himself or others. During treatment, PA occurred over 4 times less often and SIB over 2.5 times less often. Results demonstrated that PA and SIB were sensitive to NCR. NCR can be an effective procedure for reducing severe behaviour maintained by socially mediated positive reinforcement.