Effects of analyses of contingencies on clinically relevant behaviors and out of session changes

Author(s)

Alessandra Villas Bôas Hartmann

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Psicologia (IP/SBD)
• Defense date: 2015-06-16

Examining board members

Sonia Beatriz Meyer; Glenn Callaghan; Fatima Cristina Souza Conte; Jonathan William Kanter; Luc Vandenberghe

• Advisor: Sonia Beatriz Meyer; Jonathan William Kanter

Abstract

Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) is a behavior analytic, therapeutic approach that addresses the client\'s difficulties through the therapeutic relationship, recognizing three main kinds of client behaviors that can occur in session: CRB1 (problem behaviors), CRB2 (behavioral improvements) and CRB3 (analytic behavior). During the therapeutic interaction, the therapist should watch for the client\'s CRBs (Rule 1), evoke them (Rule 2) and respond to them in a natural way, specially reinforcing CRB2s (Rule 3), observing the effects of his/her own behavior on CRBs (Rule 4) and working on generalization strategies, which include analyses of the client\'s behavior or asking him/her to do homework, promoting changes in the client\'s daily life (Rule 5). It is possible to break the FAP therapeutic interaction into two parts: experiential (including Rules 1 to 4 and the client\'s CRB1s and CRB2s) and analytic (including Rule 5 and the client\'s CRB3s). The goal of this investigation was to verify if the analytic part is indeed needed or at least helpful in conducting FAP, especially with respect to the transfer of learning from in-session to out-of-session (generalization). For this purpose, two clients were submitted to a single-case experimental procedure, A-B-BC-B-BC, in which A corresponded to behavior therapy without using FAP systematically; B corresponded to the introduction of Rules 1 to 4; and BC to the maintenance of Rules 1 to 4 and the addition of Rule 5. A follow-up session, similar to Phase A, was conducted around six months after the procedure was finished, to verify the maintenance achieved with the procedure. The sessions were taped and coded with the FAPRS system, which analyzes the therapist\'s and client\'s behaviors in the experimental session. In addition, out-of-session data were collected, using a client diary card, recordings from an external observer for one of the clients, and by administering the EAS-40. Improvements in and out of session were achieved with the experimental procedure and were maintained until the follow-up sessions. Instances of Rule 5 in the BC phases influenced the clients\' analyses of their own behavior, including analyses of the therapeutic relationship. However, a differential effect of Rule 5 on the rates of CRB1 and CRB2 or out-of-session improvements or problems was not observed. It was discussed analyses made by therapists or clients do not seem to be necessary in addition to the clear shaping process conducted by FAP. Maybe these analyses can be helpful for the improvements, but with this research they did not appear to be helpful in an explicit and unquestionable way. In addition, the external measurement of outside improvements and the advantages that can be achieved by the collecting data from different sources, including in session reports of problems or improvements, was discussed. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/19816-2 - DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF INTRA AND EXTRASSESSION ANALYSIS OF CONTINGENCIES IN FUNCTIONAL ANALYTIC PSICHOTHERAPY
• Grantee: Alessandra Villas Boas Hartmann
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate