Token Econmy used in the MANAGEMENT of Schizophrenia

Question 1

What can a token economy (based on the principles of oc) do?

Answer 1

can deal with individual that experience negative symptoms of schizophrenia such as apathy and social withdrawal causing them to lack interest in aspects such as washing, eating, and maintaining a healthy appearance

Question 2

What do tokens do?

Answer 2

-Tokens (secondary reinforcers) are awarded whenever a schizophrenic patient engages in target behaviour e.g. spending time interacting with others in order to manage negative symptoms of avolition
-valuable rewards and privileges (primary reinforcers), such as food or an activity that alleviates boredom. (helps them alleviate into society)

Question 3

How does positive reinforcement work?

Answer 3

-Through positive rethforcement, it is is expected that a patient learns that the desired behaviour has beneficial consequences and thus continues such behaviour.
-Through the process of behaviour shaping, it is hoped that over time undesirable behaviours are replaced with desirable ones e.g. a negative symptom such as avolition is gradually replaced with more goal-directed behaviour such as getting up and arriving at work on time.

Question 4

What must happen for token economy to be effective?

Answer 4

-it is important that tokens are given out immediately after the target behaviour has been carried out
-For this reason, token economy for the treatment of schizophrenia usually takes place within an institutionalised setting such as an in-patient clinical, where there is a good level of control regarding access to rewards

Question 5

What is an example of when a token economy was used?

Answer 5

e.g. Ayllon and Azrin 1968) used a token economy on a ward of female veranus
schizophrenic patients, many of whom had been hospitalised for many years. -They were given plastic tokens, each embossed with the words ‘one gift’ for behaviours such as making their bed or carrying out domestic chores.
-These tokens were then exchanged for privileges such as being able to watch a movie.

Question 6

What were the findings for the research done by Allyon and Arzin?

Answer 6

The researchers found that the use of a token economy with these patients increased dramatically the number of desirable behaviours that the patients performed each day