Unintentional stimulus control during the treatment of pica displayed by a young man with autism

Pica is a potentially life-threatening behavior displayed by many individuals with developmental disabilities. In the present study, stimulus control procedures were examined during the treatment of pica exhibited by a 12-year-old boy with autism. First, the inhibitory effect of a treatment package was tested. Next, neutral stimuli (i.e., wristbands) were introduced and paired with the inhibitory treatment in an attempt to establish stimulus control. Stimulus control was inadvertently achieved with an alternative stimulus present in the environment (i.e., presence of the therapist) rather than the intended stimuli. Results are discussed in terms of the impact of stimulus overselectivity in the development of treatment programs for individuals with autism.