Functional Assessment and Treatment of Challenging Behavior

Abstract

Considerable research has focused on challenging behaviors (e.g., aggressive/disruptive, self-injurious) in children and adults with developmental disabilities over the past 25 years. Numerous behavioral interventions have been evaluated with results showing varied degrees of success. Recently, researchers have begun developing functional assessment methods to analyze contingencies maintaining challenging behaviors. This has led to the development and evaluation of functional interventions. In this article the literature on functional assessment and treatment of challenging behavior in children with developmental disabilities is reviewed. Following a review of the studies evaluating functional assessment and treatment approaches, we discuss the implications for early childhood and issues for future research in this area.