Piazza, C. C., Hanley, G. P., & Fisher, W. W. (1996).
Functional analysis and treatment of cigarette pica.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
29, 437-449.
A series of analyses was conducted to assess and treat the pica
of cigarette butts by a young man with mental retardation and
autism. First, we demonstrated that pica was maintained in a
condition with no social consequences when the available
cigarettes contained nicotine but not when the cigarettes
contained herbs without nicotine. Second, a choice assessment
(Fisher et al., 1992) confirmed that tobacco was preferred over
the other components of the cigarette (e.g., paper, filter,
etc.). Third, an analogue functional analysis (Iwata, Dorsey,
Slifer, Bauman, & Richman, 1982/1994) demonstrated that
cigarette pica was maintained independent of social consequences.
Fourth, a treatment designed to interrupt the hypothesized
response—reinforcer relationship reduced consumption of
cigarettes to zero. Finally, because cigarette pica occurred
primarily when the individual was alone or under minimal
supervision, a procedure based on stimulus control was developed
to improve the effectiveness of the intervention in these
situations.
DESCRIPTORS: developmental disabilities, pica, nicotine, autism,
functional analysis, stimulus control