Using contingency management to increase activity in a psychiatric care facility

Contingency management (CM) is often used to promote behavior change. This study includes a hypothetical example of how to use and set up an individualized CM in a psychiatric care facility. The purpose was to demonstrate the implementation and possible effect of the CM on activity attendance in addition to effects on behavior which were related but not targeted particularly by the CM. Hypothetical data shows how CM can be used with one participant during the 26-week study in a psychiatric care facility. One participant took part in the study and was assigned to five CMs over the course of the study. The CMs had a clear definition of specific activity attendances to be performed, the criteria for the completion of the attendances, as well as the consequences for the attendance completion. During baseline the participant’s activity attendance ranged from 5-10% for eight weeks. When CM was implemented, the participants activity attendance increased considerable and was above mastery criterion which was set at 85%. Activity attendance increased throughout the study, as well as non-targeted behavior (e.g., spending more time with other patients, responding to staff when addressed to). Keywords: contingency management, psychiatric disorder, activity attendance, conditioned reinforcer