Through the Lens of Functional Medicine: Behavioral Analysis and Treatment Planning with Sensory and Behavioral Interventions in the Educational Setting

INTRODUCTION: Behaviorally challenged adolescents diagnosed with autism need well-designed intervention plans based on a thorough functional assessment of behavior. Current literature on autism therapy lacks well-designed... [ view full abstract ]

INTRODUCTION: Behaviorally challenged adolescents diagnosed with autism need well-designed intervention plans based on a thorough functional assessment of behavior. Current literature on autism therapy lacks well-designed studies on applying behavior analysis and treatment planning through the lens of functional medicine. At its core, the functional medicine model aims to determine the best hypothesized root cause of imbalance and treat that cause rather than the symptoms. The objective of this retrospective case study (N=1) is to report the success of an alternative method of analyzing behavior through a functional medicine lens, and implementing a treatment plan to address suspected biochemical imbalances with a combination of sensory and behavioral interventions. METHODOLOGY: Informed consent was obtained from the 15 year old student and his parents to use previously collected clinical data for the purpose of sharing this author's integrative approach and success with such treatment. Assessment and treatment were conducted in a United States public high school. Behavioral data was reviewed for 80 academic days. Behavior was defined on a 1-5 level system: 1=Focused, 2=Getting Unfocused, 3=Unfocused, 4=Losing Control, and 5=Out of Control. Data were recorded in minutes per school day, using specific interventions based on the level of the subject at a given time. RESULTS: Level 1 behaviors improved from 66% to 89% of the time and Level 5 behaviors improved from 2% to 0.44% of the time. Levels 2-4 also showed improvement. CONCLUSION: This case study shows that this integrative approach to behavior analysis and treatment planning was effective at improving quality of life with this subject and suggests that further well-designed research studies would be beneficial.

Informed Consent was obtained from the adolescent patient, parents, and school district to release clinical progress notes for the purpose of reporting it to societies and to literature. Disclosure of potential conflict of... [ view full abstract ]

Informed Consent was obtained from the adolescent patient, parents, and school district to release clinical progress notes for the purpose of reporting it to societies and to literature.

Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: This author was contracted and paid by the school district to provide 1:1 behavioral assessment and treatment for this specific student.