Peer managed token economies: evaluation and description

Abstract

Evaluated peer Managed Token Economy Programs (TEP) to determine their effectiveness in influencing patients' behaviors on the treatment unit and psychosocial adjustment as rated by treatment staff. Two experiments were conducted with adult patients (N = 56) in a residential treatment program. The first study indicated that patients' ward behaviors were maintained at a satisfactory level by either a special peer managed or staff managed TEP. An identical program that operated with non-contingent reinforcement, however, was shown to result in dramatic decrements in patients' ward behavior. The second experiment compared two peer managed token economy programs, one that operated with a group incentive and one with an individual incentive orientation. Results indicated that both of these programs effectively maintained patients' daily ward performance, reduced psychological problems, increased social adequacy, and enhanced community adjustment potential. The relative advantages and potential uses of peer managed programs were discussed.