Abstract
Catatonia is a syndrome characterized as a cluster of difficulties in verbal and motor behavior that interferes with everyday function. This study analyzed the effects of a prompt-fading behavioral treatment package on the verbal behavior of an adolescent girl with autism and catatonia. Data were collected on three verbal responses previously observed in the participant’s repertoire, including “Hi,” “That sounds great,” and “Excuse me.” Instructors provided full manual guidance, in conjunction with a verbal model, when needed, to assist the participant in emitting the verbal responses. A functional relation was demonstrated between the prompt-fading package and the three verbal responses, and independent verbal responding emerged as manual prompts were faded. Responding was displayed across unfamiliar adults and maintained over time.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bijou, S. (1993). Behavior analysis of child development. Reno, NV: Context Press.
Conallen, K., & Reed, P. (2017). Children with autism spectrum disorder: Teaching conversation involving feelings about events. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 61, 279–291. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12339.
Dhossche, D. M. (2014). Decalogue of catatonia in autism spectrum disorders. Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00157.
Dhossche, D., & Wing, L. (2006). Catatonia in autism or the blind men and the elephant. Psychiatric Times, 23, 1–7.
DiGennaro, R. F. D., Reed, D. D., Baez, C. N., & Maguire, H. (2011). A parametric analysis of errors of commission during discrete-trial training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44, 611–615. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.2011.44-611.
Hare, D. J., & Malone, C. (2004). Catatonia and autistic spectrum disorders. Autism, 8, 183–195. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361304042722.
Ingvarsson, E. T., & Hollobaugh, T. (2010). Acquisition of intraverbal behavior: Teaching children with autism to mand for answers to questions. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 43, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.2010.43-1.
Krantz, P. J., & McClannahan, L. E. (1993). Teaching children with autism to initiate to peers: Effects of a script-fading procedure. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 26, 121–132. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1993.26-121.
Luchini, F., Medda, P., Mariani, M. G., Mauri, M., Toni, C., & Pergui, G. (2015). Electroconvulsive therapy in catatonic patients: Efficacy and predictors of response. World Journal of Psychiatry, 22(5), 182–192. https://doi.org/10.5498/wjp.v5.i2.182.
MacDuff, G. S., Krantz, P. J., & McClannahan, L. E. (2001). Prompts and prompt fading strategies for people with autism. In C. Maurice, G. Green, & R. M. Foxx (Eds.), Making a difference: Behavioral intervention for autism. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
Mazzone, L., Postorino, V., Valeri, G., & Vicari, S. (2014). Catatonia in patients with autism: Prevalence and management. CNS Drugs, 28, 205–215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-014-0143-9.
McClannahan, L. E., & Krantz, P. J. (1999). Activity schedules for children with autism: Teaching independent behavior. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.
McClannahan, L. E., & Krantz, P. J. (2005). Teaching conversation to children with autism: Scripts and script fading. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2016.11.008.
McGee, G. G., Almeida, M. C., Sulzer-Azaroff, B., & Feldman, R. S. (1992). Promoting reciprocal interactions via peer incidental teaching. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 117–126. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1992.25-117.
McGee, G. G., Krantz, P. J., & McClannahan, L. E. (1985). The facilitative effects of incidental teaching on preposition use by autistic children. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 18, 17–31. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1985.18-17.
McGee, G. G., Krantz, P. J., & McClannahan, L. E. (1986). An extension of incidental teaching procedures to reading instruction for autistic children. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 19, 147–157. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1986.19-147.
Nuzzolo, R., Leonard, M. A., Ortiz, E., Rivera, C. M., & Greer, R. D. (2002). Teaching children with autism to prefer books or toys over stereotypy or passivity. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 4, 80–87. https://doi.org/10.1177/109830070200400203.
Shah, A., & Wing, L. (2006). Psychological approaches to chronic catatonia-like deterioration in autism spectrum disorders. International Review of Neurobiology, 72, 245–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0074-7742(05)72015-8.
Shillingsburg, M. A., Bowen, C. N., & Shapiro, S. K. (2014). Increasing social approach and decreasing social avoidance in children with autism spectrum disorder during discrete trial training. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 8, 1443–1453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2014.07.013.
Vener, S. M., Wichnick-Gillis, A., Badala, D., & Poulson, C. L. (2019). Increasing behavior incompatible with catatonia in a young adolescent girl with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 57, 7–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2018.09.006.
Wilcox, J. A., & Duffy, P. R. (2015). The syndrome of catatonia. Behavioral Sciences, 5, 576–588. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs5040576.
Wing, L., & Shah, A. (2000). Catatonia in autistic spectrum disorders. British Journal of Psychiatry, 174, 357–362. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.176.4.357.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
SMV, AMG, and CLP all contributed to the study’s conception and methodology. Material preparation, data collection, data visualization, and analysis were performed by SMV and AMG. The first draft of the manuscript was written by SMV and all authors reviewed and edited previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vener, S.M., Gillis, A.M. & Poulson, C.L. Increasing Verbal Behavior in a Young Adolescent Girl with Catatonia and Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 51, 3857–3867 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04843-3
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04843-3