BAS Crisis Intervention Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a crisis involving self-injurious behavior (SIB), which environmental modification should a BCBA prioritize first?
- Immediately apply a restraint device
- Remove or block access to objects used for self-injury (Correct answer)
- Increase the density of reinforcement on an FR schedule
- Place the client in a time-out room
Correct answer: Remove or block access to objects used for self-injury
Removing or blocking access to objects used for SIB reduces immediate harm while maintaining a safer environment.
Question 2: A client begins escalating toward crisis during a therapy session. According to crisis prevention models, which staff response is most appropriate at the 'agitation' phase?
- Implement a planned physical hold
- Increase task demands to redirect attention
- Use a calm, empathetic, low-stimulation approach (Correct answer)
- Administer a corrective consequence immediately
Correct answer: Use a calm, empathetic, low-stimulation approach
At the agitation phase, de-escalation via calm, empathetic communication reduces arousal before behavior escalates further.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes a 'debriefing' procedure after a crisis episode?
- A review session with all parties to discuss the event, identify contributing factors, and prevent recurrence (Correct answer)
- Immediate delivery of a preferred reinforcer to the client to restore rapport
- Documentation of the incident in the client's permanent record only
- A verbal reprimand to staff who implemented incorrect procedures
Correct answer: A review session with all parties to discuss the event, identify contributing factors, and prevent recurrence
Debriefing is a structured review that helps identify antecedents, evaluate staff responses, and improve future crisis plans.
Question 4: When developing a crisis plan for a client with a history of aggression, which component is ethically required?
- A hierarchy of least-to-most restrictive procedures (Correct answer)
- Mandatory use of physical restraint as the primary intervention
- Exclusion of the client's caregivers from plan development
- Prohibition of any antecedent modifications
Correct answer: A hierarchy of least-to-most restrictive procedures
Ethical practice requires a least-restrictive hierarchy, exhausting less intrusive options before more restrictive ones.
Question 5: A supervisor notices that staff frequently skip the 'preventive' phase of a crisis intervention model and jump to restraint. Which supervision strategy is most appropriate?
- Suspend staff pending a formal investigation
- Conduct behavioral skills training (BST) on the full crisis protocol (Correct answer)
- Remove the restraint option from the crisis plan entirely
- Increase the client's medication dosage to reduce crisis frequency
Correct answer: Conduct behavioral skills training (BST) on the full crisis protocol
BST (instruction, modeling, rehearsal, feedback) is the evidence-based method for training staff on complex behavioral procedures.
Question 6: Which factor most directly increases the risk that a physical restraint will be used unnecessarily during a crisis?
- Staff receiving regular performance feedback
- Inadequate functional behavior assessment prior to crisis plan development (Correct answer)
- High staff-to-client ratios during high-risk periods
- Regular practice drills of de-escalation techniques
Correct answer: Inadequate functional behavior assessment prior to crisis plan development
Without an FBA to identify the function of behavior, crisis plans may rely on reactive restraint rather than function-based prevention.
Question 7: A client's crisis plan specifies a 'safe space' procedure. The client voluntarily moves to the designated area when prompted. This is an example of which intervention category?
- Punishment-based intervention
- Antecedent-based de-escalation with client cooperation (Correct answer)
- Non-contingent restraint
- Emergency chemical restraint
Correct answer: Antecedent-based de-escalation with client cooperation
A voluntary safe space is an antecedent-based, non-restrictive de-escalation strategy that the client participates in willingly.
BAS Crisis Intervention Techniques 2
During a crisis involving self-injurious behavior (SIB), which environmental modification should a BCBA prioritize first?