Functional Analysis of Self-Injurious Behavior in an Adult with Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome

A three-phase functional analysis was conducted to discover controlling variables of self-injury in a 28-year-old individual with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Experimental verification followed information-gathering and interpretive phases. Self-injurious responses were blocked to prevent harm to the participant; therefore, responses measured were precursors to self-injury. A multielement experimental design included four assessment conditions: social attention contingent on precursory behavior, attention contingent on behavior incompatible with precursory behavior, continuous attention, and minimal attention. Highest rates of precursory behavior occurred during continuous attention and when incompatible behavior was reinforced. Social attention appeared to act as a discriminative stimulus for self-injurious behavior in this participant.