Interventions with Challenging Behavior of Persons with Developmental Disabilities: A Review of Current Research Practices

The published intervention research on the remediation of challenging behavior of persons with developmental disabilities was reviewed and results largely support meaningful improvements in the state of the intervention literature since the time of several previous reviews.

Abstract

The published intervention research on the remediation of challenging behavior of persons with developmental disabilities was reviewed. A total of 179 studies over a recent 5-year period (1988 through 1992) were reviewed for adherence to certain standards of practice, including the use of functional assessment, function-treatment matching, level of intervention intrusiveness, monitoring of collateral behaviors, follow-up, and generalization. Results are presented with regard to each standard of practice and the relations among practices. The results largely support meaningful improvements in the state of the intervention literature since the time of several previous reviews. Areas of progress are noted and continuing deficits are discussed.