On the role of operant contingencies in the maintenance of inappropriate mealtime behavior: An epidemiological analysis.

Abstract

Functional analysis is the primary assessment used to determine the function of inappropriate mealtime behavior in children with feeding disorders. Based on single-case experimental design studies and recent reviews, the prevalence of negative reinforcement alone in the maintenance of inappropriate mealtime behavior appears to be much greater than positive reinforcement alone. We conducted a retrospective consecutive-controlled case series to determine the generality of previous findings. Results of the epidemiological analysis support prior research in that negative reinforcement in the form of escape (44.8%), and multiple control (i.e., positive and negative reinforcement) in the forms of escape and attention (37.2%), are considerably more prevalent than positive reinforcement alone (2.5%). We discuss the relationship between functional analysis of inappropriate mealtime behavior and treatment utility. Further, we describe avenues of future research designed to advance the application of functional analysis in feeding disorders beyond inappropriate mealtime behavior.