ARTIFACTUAL EFFECTS OF SENSORY‐INTEGRATIVE THERAPY ON SELF‐INJURIOUS BEHAVIOR

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Abstract
Three individuals who exhibited self‐injurious behavior (SIB) were exposed to sensory‐integrative therapy. Prior to treatment, a functional analysis baseline was conducted to identify the motivational features of their SIB. One subject's SIB appeared to be an attention‐getting response (maintained by positive reinforcement), which varied subsequently as a function of attention being either withheld or provided noncontingently during sensory‐integration sessions. The 2nd subject displayed a pattern of responding suggestive of stereotypic SIB (maintained by automatic reinforcement), which paradoxically increased during sensory‐integration sessions. The 3rd subject's SIB appeared to function as an escape response (maintained by negative reinforcement), and his behavior during sensory‐integration sessions was similar to that observed during baseline sessions in which demands were not present. The SIB of all 3 subjects later was reduced when behavioral interventions were applied. The data presented raise questions about the active components of sensory‐integrative therapy and the functional types of SIB for which it might be appropriate.