Habit reversal and repetitive and restrictive behaviour patterns in young people with autism spectrum disorders

Habit Reversal Treatment (HRT) is a behaviour-analytic intervention for reducing habits in children and adults using response description, response detection, competing response, and social support procedures. Studies were carried out to answer (1) has HRT been used for individuals with autism in the research literature? (2) Is HRT as usual effective for reducing restricted and repetitive behaviours (RRB's) of an individual with autism? (3) What modifications are necessary to implement HRT with individuals with autism? (4) Can HRT be used to increase functional behaviour? In Study 1, a systematic review of HRT found initial support for HRT component among individuals with autism but did find a substantial gap in the literature using an entire HRT procedure. In Study 2, a pilot study with two individuals with autism showed that the application of unmodified HRT replaced the target behaviour with a new RRB in the first participant. Modifications including training to identify antecedent triggers and multiple competing responses. The modifications resulted in successful reduction without new RRB's occurring for the second participant. Study 3, showed that training multiple competing response with a lag schedule reduced target behaviours for two participants with self-harming RRB's. In Study 4, HRT was modified to double the duration of functional play behaviour for a non-verbal child with autism. Study results are discussed including limitations and considerations for future research.