Richman, D. M., Lindauer, S. E., Crosland, K. A., McKerchar, T. L., & Morse, P. S. (2001). Functional analysis and treatment of breath holding maintained by nonsocial reinforcement. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 34, 531-534.

A functional analysis showed that breath holding exhibited by a 16-year-old boy with mental retardation occurred independent of social consequences. Assessment results of the existing treatment procedure - a verbal reprimand - were used to design a treatment package that reduced the behavior to low levels across 7 months.

DESCRIPTORS: _breath holding, hypoxia, functional analysis, developmental disabilities