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Challenging Behaviors Associated with Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disabilities

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Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder

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Abstract

Challenging behavior is commonly observed in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but presents differently across autistic individuals. High rates of challenging behavior in ASD are the result of dynamic and interactive factors, but the prevailing theory guiding assessment and treatment of challenging behavior is focused on the influence of the environment on the occurrence of behavior. This chapter provides an overview of function-based treatment approaches for challenging behavior. Current empirical support for psychopharmacological and cognitive behavioral treatments as related to challenging behavior is included as well.

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Hendrix, N.M., O’Brien, M.J. (2022). Challenging Behaviors Associated with Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disabilities. In: Matson, J.L., Sturmey, P. (eds) Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88538-0_3

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