Raymond G. Miltenberger

An Evaluation of Affect and Binge Eating

The affect regulation model of binge eating suggests that binge eating occurs because it provides momentary relief from negative affect. The purpose of this study was to evaluate change in affect during binge eating to evaluate the merits of this model. Participants were young adult women from a midwestern university. Binge eaters recorded their level of pleasantness using the affect grid at 2-minute intervals before, during, and after binge eating episodes and regular meals. Controls recorded in a similar manner during meals. The results showed a different pattern of affect for binge eaters during binge eating episodes and normal meals and for binge eaters and controls at normal meals. The results support the affect regulation model of binge eating and suggest that binge eating is negatively reinforced because it produces momentary relief from negative affect.

Conducting a Functional Assessment of Problem Behavior in Applied Settings.

Researchers have recently called for a greater emphasis on the use of functional assessment procedures in the selection of treatment strategies for problem behavior in persons with mental retardation. In applied settings there are several methods available for conducting a functional assessment. This article identifies and describes three methods that have been used in applied behavior analysis research: informant assessment (e.g., behavioral interviews, rating scales, and questionnaires), direct observation assessment, and experimental analysis. Although experimental analysis provides the most conclusive information regarding controlling variables for a behavior problem, less rigorous methods of assessment also yield important information with which to select and evaluate treatment strategies. This article reviews the strengths and weaknesses of each functional assessment method and provides a case example to illustrate the use of the various assessment procedures.

Direct and retrospective assessment of factors contributing to compulsive buying

Compulsive buying is a disorder that has begun to receive attention from researchers in recent years. The results of a handful of studies suggest that compulsive buying occurs in response to negative emotions and results in a decrease in the intensity of the negative emotions. In this investigation, we used interview and self-monitoring methods to evaluate the antecedents and consequences of compulsive buying in a sample of women who met criteria for compulsive buying on the compulsive buying scale (J. Consumer Res. 19 (1992) 459). As a group, the participants reported negative emotions as the most common antecedents to compulsive buying, and euphoria or relief from the negative emotions as the most common consequence of compulsive buying. These findings were consistent across the interview and self-monitoring assessment methods. The implications for assessment and treatment are discussed.

Habit reversal: A review of applications and variations

Research is reviewed on habit reversal treatment of tics and other nervous habits, and on the components of such treatment. Awareness training and the use of a competing response are found to be its essential components. Studies which evaluate the habit reversal procedure and its variations in the treatment of stuttering are also reviewed.

Assessment of Treatment Acceptability: A Review of the Literature.

This paper reviews the treatment acceptability literature starting with Kazdins (1977) and Wolfs (1978) earlier discussion of social validity. Treatment acceptability is defined, and the instruments used in its assessment are reviewed. The paper then discusses the research methodology (analogue or clinical) and reviews the individuals who have rated acceptability, as well as the treatments and problem behaviors that have been evaluated in the literature. Factors that may influence acceptability or produce changes in acceptability are discussed. Finally, the paper suggests how research in treatment acceptability may be extended to the field of early childhood special education.

Habit reversal with muscle tics: Replication and component analysis

Habit reversal, a multicomponent treatment package, was compared with a simplified package consisting of just two components, awareness and competing response training, in the treatment of muscle tics. Nine subjects with various muscle tics were divided into two treatment groups. Awareness and competing response training was introduced for five subjects in a multiple baseline across subjects design. Using a similar design, four subjects were exposed to the entire habit reversal package. Objective measures of tics were attained by videotaping subjects under clinic conditions designed to evoke their respective tic. The results indicated that the awareness and competing response training was as effective in decreasing tic frequency as the whole habit reversal program. One subject with severe torticollis failed to benefit from the habit reversal. All other subjects in both groups showed marked improvement which was maintained at brief follow-up.

Home-based Descriptive and Experimental Analysis of Problem Behaviors in Children

The authors conducted descriptive and experimental analysis of problem behaviors in the homes of 5 children. The childrens parents were actively involved in the descriptive assessment and manipulated potential controlling variables during the experimental analysis. The information obtained from each functional assessment method (e.g., behavioral interview, direct observation assessment, experimental analysis) indicated the same function for each childs problem behavior. Based upon the results of the descriptive analysis, experimental analysis conditions were designed to test specific hypotheses regarding the function of the challenging behavior. Through the brief experimental analysis, we verified the function of the childrens problem behaviors in four to six sessions. Interventions involving functional communication training (FCT) were implemented based upon the assessment results for 2 of the children. The effectiveness of FCT for these 2 children validated the functional assessment results. The study employed parents in their natural environment and suggested that functional assessment procedures may be useful and/or practical in natural settings.

THE EFFECTS OF EXERGAMING ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG INACTIVE CHILDREN IN A PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM

Childhood obesity, which is due in part to lack of physical activity, is a serious concern that requires the attention of the behavioral community. Although excessive video game play has been noted in the literature as a contributor to childhood obesity, newer video gaming technology, called exergaming, has been designed to capitalize on the reinforcing effects of video games to increase physical activity in children. This study evaluated the effects of exergaming on physical activity among 4 inactive children in a physical education (PE) classroom. Results showed that exergaming produced substantially more minutes of physical activity and more minutes of opportunity to engage in physical activity than did the standard PE program. In addition, exergaming was socially acceptable to both the students and the PE teacher. Exergaming appears to hold promise as a method for increasing physical activity among inactive children and might be a possible intervention for childhood obesity.

Video modeling by experts with video feedback to enhance gymnastics skills.

The effects of combining video modeling by experts with video feedback were analyzed with 4 female competitive gymnasts (7 to 10 years old) in a multiple baseline design across behaviors. During the intervention, after the gymnast performed a specific gymnastics skill, she viewed a video segment showing an expert gymnast performing the same skill and then viewed a video replay of her own performance of the skill. The results showed that all gymnasts demonstrated improved performance across three gymnastics skills following exposure to the intervention.

A descriptive analysis of factors contributing to binge eating

This study was designed to examine temporally proximal and remote antecedents as well as immediate and delayed consequences of binge eating behavior. Participants included 16 undergraduate females who reported engaging in binge eating at least two times per week and experiencing a sense of lack of control during binge eating episodes on the Questionnaire of Eating and Weight Patterns. Results indicated that the most frequent proximal antecedents to binge eating were negative emotions such as feeling depressed, angry, empty, hopeless, worried, or dissatisfied. The most frequent consequences of binge eating included relief from negative feelings and thoughts and decrease in hunger or craving. The results of this study suggest that the function of binge eating can be identified through assessment of antecedents and consequences with real time recording and retrospective reports. Treatment implications are discussed.