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Using Functional Analysis to Assess Alertness and Seizures in a 24-year-old Woman with Intellectual Disabilities: A Case Report

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was assess environmental variables associated with pseudo-siezures displayed by a 24-year-old woman with intellectual disabilities. A modified brief functional analysis was conducted over 5 days to determine the environmental correlates of the participant’s seizures. An alertness analysis was conducted to evaluate the participant’s awareness during pseudo seizure episodes. Results suggested that the episodes occurred across all session; thus the participant’s behavior was not maintained by social consequences. Results of an alertness analysis indicated that the participant did not have any control over her pseudo-seizure behavior. This suggests that actual seizure activity was present in the participant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Special Education, AD Box 25, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, 99258-0025, USA

    Kanae Oikawa, K. Mark Derby & T. F. McLaughlin

  2. University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA

    Wayne W. Fisher

Authors
  1. Kanae Oikawa
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  2. K. Mark Derby
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  3. T. F. McLaughlin
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  4. Wayne W. Fisher
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Mark Derby.

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Oikawa, K., Derby, K.M., McLaughlin, T.F. et al. Using Functional Analysis to Assess Alertness and Seizures in a 24-year-old Woman with Intellectual Disabilities: A Case Report. J Dev Phys Disabil 23, 433–438 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-011-9238-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-011-9238-0

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