Grace, N. C., Thompson, R., & Fisher, W. W. (1996).
The treatment of covert self-injury through contingencies on response products.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
29, 239-242.
Assessment and treatment of covert self-injurious behavior are
complicated because it is difficult to quantify and apply
differential consequences to covert responses. In this study,
both tangible and social reinforcers were identified using
reinforcer assessment methods. These reinforcers were then
provided contingent upon the absence of tissue damage identified
during physical examinations, resulting in near 100% success in
physical assessment checks that was maintained over 10 months.
DESCRIPTORS: self-injurious behavior, factitious disorder, medical
attention, reinforcer assessment