Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Apr 18;17(3):727-745.
doi: 10.1007/s40617-023-00792-2. eCollection 2024 Sep.

A Two Step Validation of the Performance-Based IISCA: A Trauma-Informed Functional Analysis Model

Joshua Jessel  1 , Tess Fruchtman  1 , Natasha Raghunauth-Zaman  1 , Aaron Leyman  1 , Felipe M Lemos  2 , Henrique Costa Val  3 , Monica Howard  4 , Gregory P Hanley  5
Affiliations

A Two Step Validation of the Performance-Based IISCA: A Trauma-Informed Functional Analysis Model

Joshua Jessel et al. Behav Anal Pract. .

Abstract

Functional analyses often involve extended exposure to evocative events and problem behavior, which potentially places the client at risk of retraumatization. The performance-based, interview-informed synthesized contingency analysis (IISCA) is a brief analysis that is conducted in a single session and applies a trauma-assumed framework in the development of the assessment procedures (e.g., measures of calm, reinforcing precursors to avoid escalation and physical management). We conducted 12 applications of the performance-based IISCA in the United States and Brazil and (1) compared the results to a subset of 7 applications who also experienced the original IISCA and (2) incorporated a function-based treatment informed by the performance-based IISCA in a further subset of 5 of those 12 applications. The results support the use of the performance-based IISCA in that this variation of the IISCA corresponded with the original IISCA and informed effective treatment of problem behavior.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40617-023-00792-2.

Keywords: Functional analysis; Problem behavior; Synthesized contingencies; Trauma; Treatment validation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interestTess Fruchtman declares no conflict of interest. Natasha Raghunauth-Zaman declares no conflict of interest. Aaron Leyman declares no conflict of interest. Felipe M. Lemos declares no conflict of interest. Henrique Costa Val declares no conflict of interest. Monica Howard declares no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Hypothetical data indicating differentiated and undifferentiated outcomes during the performance-based IISCA. Note. The vertical line indicates the termination of the analysis. Shaded area indicates intervals in which the evocative events are present. The top panel presents a differentiated outcome in which problem behavior is only observed when the evocative events are present and interactive behavior is only observed during reinforcement. This results in a reliable pattern of frequent interchanges between evocative events and reinforcement. The bottom panel presents an undifferentiated outcome where problem behavior is occurring during most events, with the majority observed during reinforcement. The participant is infrequently calm, resulting in longer periods of reinforcement without returning to the evocative events
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Results of the performance-based IISCAs and original IISCAs for four of seven participants who experienced both. Note. The vertical line indicates the termination of the analysis. Shaded area indicates intervals in which the evocative events are present. Black circles represent dangerous problem behavior. Grey circles represent nondangerous problem behavior. Values in the box indicate the total duration of the original IISCA
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Results of the performance-based IISCAs and original IISCAs for three of seven participants who experienced both. Note. The vertical line indicates the termination of the analysis. Shaded area indicates intervals in which the evocative events are present. Black circles represent dangerous problem behavior. Grey circles represent nondangerous problem behavior. Values in the box indicate the total duration of the original IISCA
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Results for the participants who only experienced the performance-based IISCA. Note. The vertical line indicates the termination of the analysis. Shaded area indicates intervals in which the evocative events are present. Black circles represent dangerous problem behavior. Grey circles represent nondangerous problem behavior
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Percentage of problem behavior when the reinforcers were present and absent during the performance-Based IISCA. Note. RAI refers to reinforcer absent interval. RPI refers to reinforcer present interval
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Percentage of calm during the original IISCA
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Summary of duration of analyses and frequency of problem behavior
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Treatment validity results for Rich and Osman
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Treatment validity results for Lola and Tobi
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
Treatment validity results for Gabi
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Breaux, C. A., & Smith, K. (2023). Assent in applied behaviour analysis and positive behaviour support: Ethical considerations and practical recommendations. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 69(1), 111–121. 10.1080/20473869.2022.2144969 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Coffey, A. L., Shawler, L. A., Jessel, J., Bain, T., Nye, M., & Dorsey, M. F. (2021). Generality of the practical functional assessment and skill-based treatment among individuals with autism and mental health disorders. Behavioral Interventions, 36(1), 298–314. 10.1002/bin.1755
    1. Darnell, D., Flaster, A., Hendricks, K., Kerbrat, A., & Comtois, K. A. (2019). Adolescent clinical populations and associations between trauma and behavioral and emotional problems. Psychological Trauma: Theory Research Practice and Policy 11(3) 266–273. 10.1037/tra0000371 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Dillon, C. M., & Carr, J. E. (2007). Assessing indices of happiness and unhappiness in individuals with developmental disabilities: A review. Behavioral Interventions, 22(3), 229–244. 10.1002/bin.240
    1. Ghaemmaghami, M., Hanley, G. P., Jessel, J., & Landa, R. (2018). Shaping complex functional communication responses. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 51(3), 502–520. 10.1002/jaba.468 - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources