Premium
AN EVALUATION OF STIMULANT MEDICATION ON THE REINFORCING EFFECTS OF PLAY
Author(s) -
LaRue Robert H.,
Northup John,
Baumeister Alan A.,
Hawkins Mike F.,
Seale Lauren,
Williams Tara,
Ridgway Andrea
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1901/jaba.2008.41-143
Subject(s) - stimulant , psychology , reinforcement , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , quiet , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , psychiatry , social psychology , physics , quantum mechanics
Although a vast literature has indicated that stimulant medications are effective for reducing inappropriate behavior in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the effects of stimulant medication on ancillary behaviors (e.g., play) have yet to be investigated with the same rigor. We used a reinforcer assessment procedure to evaluate the effects of medication on the play and social behavior of 5 preschool children who had been diagnosed with ADHD. Conditions included (a) social reinforcement (i.e., playing with friends), (b) alone play, and (c) quiet time (i.e., resting). Results indicated that 1 of the 5 participants selected fewer social reinforcers and more nonsocial reinforcers (alone play or quiet time) while on medication. The findings indicate that the reinforcer assessment procedure may be a viable way to evaluate medication effects on an ongoing basis and to inform treatment decisions.