Comparison of behavioral intervention and sensory-integration therapy in the treatment of self-injurious behavior

The current study investigates the comparative effects of sensory-integration therapy and behavioral interventions on rates of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in a 9-year-old boy with diagnosis of autism. A functional analysis was conducted to identify the variables maintaining the self-injurious behavior. This analysis demonstrated that SIB was maintained by negative reinforcement as a result of escaping or avoiding demand situations. A sensory-integration therapy and a behavioral intervention were compared within an alternating treatments design. Results from this study clearly demonstrate that the behavioral intervention was more effective in reducing SIB than the sensory-integration therapy. Finally, in the best treatment phase, the behavioral intervention only was implemented and further reduction was observed in the frequency of SIB.