Token economies

Question 1

What are token economies?

Answer 1

A system for management of behaviour of patients with schizophrenia in psychiatric hospitals

Question 2

What is the aim of token economies?

Answer 2

To improve behaviour and functioning and counter effects of institutionalisation

Question 3

What are effects of institutionalisation?

Answer 3

Lack of personal care, apathy and social behaviour

Question 4

What is the long-term aims of token economies?

Answer 4

To reintegrate the pateints into the community and improve their ability to cope outside hospital

Question 5

What is the process of token economies?

Answer 5

Patients are given secondary reinforcers as tokens for ideal behaviour such as hygiene, and these can be exchanged for primary reinforcers, rewards, such as outside visits

Question 6

What is the basis of token economies?

Answer 6

The behaviourist principles of operant conditioning involving positive reinforcement

Question 7

What is an important difference of token economies?

Answer 7

They are system for managing schizophrenia, not treating it

Question 8

What is the the issue with evidence for token economies?

Answer 8

Few trials used random allocation and there is no long-term studies of transition