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Heart Rate Assessment and Use of a Multiple Schedule Treatment for an Individual with Obsessive Compulsive-like Behavior

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Abstract

Repetitive behavior is displayed by individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (American Psychiatric Association 2013). Clinicians assessing individuals with autism who display stereotypic behavior face the challenge of determining whether or not these repetitive behaviors are more reflective of topographies observed in individuals with developmental delays, or are more representative of those observed in OCD. The distinction is important because traditional treatments for OCD have addressed the discomfort associated with repetitive acts, which has been described as a building urge that precedes compulsive behavior. In contrast, treatments for stereotypic behavior in children with autism may involve signaled periods of access to repetitive behavior which could inadvertently lead to a child encountering conditions which elicit stress as part of a treatment approach. One potential way to capture a building state of distress in a client with repetitive behavior is through the measurement of heart rate. The current study evaluated heart rate variability during conditions in which an establishing operation was either present or absent for the arranging behavior of a child with autism, as well as when access to arranging was allowed. When significant differences were not observed across these conditions, a multiple schedule treatment for arranging was implemented and demonstrated to be an effective way to manage the participant’s compulsive behavior. The treatment was implemented in the home setting and the participant’s parent was also able to demonstrate the ability to effectively implement the intervention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Melmark, 2600 Wayland Road, Berwyn, PA, 19312, USA

    James T. Chok

  2. Melmark New England, Andover, MA, USA

    Jill M. Harper

Authors
  1. James T. Chok
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  2. Jill M. Harper
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Correspondence to James T. Chok.

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Funding

This study was not funded.

Ethical Approval

This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors.

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

Conflict of Interest

Both authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Chok, J.T., Harper, J.M. Heart Rate Assessment and Use of a Multiple Schedule Treatment for an Individual with Obsessive Compulsive-like Behavior. J Dev Phys Disabil 28, 821–834 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-016-9511-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-016-9511-3

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