Quick note: We ran into some tech issues, so this episode is audio-only.

CEUs: Sparks Behavioral Services, LLC (ACE #OP-21-0004) is an ACE-approved provider of continuing education units for behavior analysts. You can earn continuing education units (CEUs) for listening to this episode by visiting cooperantlearning.com!

Summary:

Dr. Alison Cox returns to discuss the complexities of psychotropic medication use for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Topics include medication effects, monitoring strategies, the case for single case designs in med effect evaluation and research gaps, emphasizing the importance of systematic assessment and collaboration.

Guests

(from brocku.ca) Alison Cox is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Disability Studies. She completed her doctoral degree in Psychology from the University of Manitoba. Dr. Cox is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst at the doctoral level and a Registered Behaviour Analyst (Ont). She has over 15 years of experience working in the field of Behaviour Analysis. Throughout her research and clinical work, Dr. Cox has developed specific expertise in assessing and treating severe challenging behaviour in individuals with dual diagnosis, supporting skill acquisition in individuals with dual diagnosis, and supervising early intensive behavioural intervention programs.

Survey Opportunity!

Drake and Brock University researchers are enacting this project to gain perspective on the status of board certified behavior analysts’ (BCBA) general understanding of psychotropic medication’s potential effects on behavior; how they have gained that understanding, and if that understanding influences their practice with regard to how psychotropic medication effects are considered during the delivery of behavioral services (e.g., reduce challenging behavior, enhance skill acquisition). If you are board-certified and interested in participating, click this link: https://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9B1U5KVDoDbIwgS

Research

Cox AD, Pritchard D, Penney H, Eiri L, Dyer TJ. Demonstrating an Analyses of Clinical Data Evaluating Psychotropic Medication Reductions and the ACHIEVE! Program in Adolescents with Severe Problem Behavior. Perspect Behav Sci. 2021 Feb 12;45(1):125-151. doi: 10.1007/s40614-020-00279-3. PMID: 35342870; PMCID: PMC8894527.

Cox AD, Virues-Ortega J. Long-term functional stability of problem behavior exposed to psychotropic medications. J Appl Behav Anal. 2022 Feb;55(1):214-229. doi: 10.1002/jaba.873. Epub 2021 Jul 30. PMID: 34329500.

Cox, A. D., Davis, S., & Feldman, M. (2022). Medication training for behavior analysts.Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 22(1), 130–142. https://doi.org/10.1037/bar0000240

Song M, Rubin BS, Ha JW, Ware RS, Doan TN, Harley D. Use of psychotropic medications in adults with intellectual disability: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2023 May;57(5):661-674. doi: 10.1177/00048674221149864. Epub 2023 Jan 26. PMID: 36700564.

Stellato, S., Cox, A.D., Thillainathan, T. et al. Psychotropic Medication Adjustment Patterns in Treatment Literature Featuring Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Challenging Behavior. J Dev Phys Disabil (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-025-10027-7

Valdovinos MG, Roberts C, Kennedy CH. Functional analysis of tardive dyskinesia: implications for assessment and treatment. J Appl Behav Anal. 2005 Summer;38(2):239-42. doi: 10.1901/jaba.2005.53-04. PMID: 16033170; PMCID: PMC1226159.