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Article
Clinical Outcomes of Behavioral Treatments for Pica in Children with Developmental Disabilities.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2015)
  • Nathan A. Call, Emory University
  • Christina A. Simmons, Rowan University
  • Joanna E. Lomas Mevers, Emory University
  • Jessica P. Alvarez, Emory University
Abstract
Pica is a potentially deadly form of self-injurious behavior most frequently exhibited by individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Research indicates that pica can be decreased with behavioral interventions; however, the existing literature reflects treatment effects for small samples ( n = 1-4) and the overall success of such treatments is not well-understood. This study quantified the overall effect size by examining treatment data from all patients seen for treatment of pica at an intensive day-treatment clinical setting ( n = 11), irrespective of treatment success. Results demonstrate that behavioral interventions are highly effective treatments for pica, as determined by the large effect size for individual participants (i.e., NAP scores ≥ .70) and large overall treatment effect size (Cohen's d = 1.80).
Keywords
  • Pica,
  • behavioral treatment,
  • behavioral analysis,
  • clinical outcomes
Publication Date
July 1, 2015
DOI
10.1007/s10803-015-2375-z
Citation Information
Nathan A. Call, Christina A. Simmons, Joanna E. Lomas Mevers and Jessica P. Alvarez. "Clinical Outcomes of Behavioral Treatments for Pica in Children with Developmental Disabilities." Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Vol. 45 Iss. 7 (2015) p. 2105 - 2114
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/christina-simmons/1/