token economys

Question 1

how does it work

Answer 1

when patients carry out a desireable behaviour they are immediately rewarded with a token this immediate receiving of the token is important because if you delay the receiving of the reward effectiveness of the reward
target behaviours are dependent of the individual

Question 2

what is the theory behind token economy

Answer 2

tocken economy is a behaviour modification processes based on thepricniples of operant conditioning

the tokes have no values in themsleves they are sondary reinforces, it is the rewards which come as a result of these tokens the rewards themselves are primary reinforces

at the beginning of the programme the rewards and tokens are adminstered together and then over time the token is presented first and can be exchanged for rewards like film time, sweets

however behaviour modification is not a cure.
It instead improves the life within the hopsital for the patients and makes it easier to adapt back to life in the community after a stay in hosptial

Question 3

what is the rationale behind token economys

Answer 3

the fact that during the 1960-1970s institutionalisation was the norm for treating patients with schizophernia. Institutionalisation often lead to maladpative behaviours and bad habits, eg lack of personal care and involvement of social activity with others

Question 4

researcher into the rationale of tes

Answer 4

Matson et al (2016) identified three categories of institutionalised behaviour tackled by token economies

1. personal care
2. condition related behaviour such as apathy and avoliton
   3 . social activity

Question 5

research support for the effectiveness of token economies

Answer 5

This comes from Ayllon and Nazrin (1968)
on a ward of woman with schizophernia
when the woman carried out a task eg making a bed they were giving a token which had the phrase ‘ 1 gift ` written on it
they were able to swap these toens for a gift or a privilege
Over time this resulted in the number of tasks increasing

Question 6

another evidence for effectiveness

Answer 6

this comes from Glowacki et al (2016)

• meta analysis of seven high quality studies conducted between 1999- 2003 on the effectiveness of TES for people with chronic mental health issues
• they were all in a hospital setting
• all studies have showed a reduction in the negative symptom an a decline in the frequency of unwanted behaviours
  this study supports the use and value of token economies

Question 7

evaluating Glowacki et al (2016) study

Answer 7

seven studies is a minimal amount of studies to base support on the effectiveness of this technique

the small number of studies n the meta analysis can lead to a potential problem called the file draw problem
where there is bias to positive published findings and undesireable results have been filed away
this poses the question as to how effective token economies actually are in benefitting individuals with schizophernia in terms of helping them with maldaptative behaviours

Question 8

disadvantage including the ethical issues of token economies

Answer 8

it gives professionals considerable power to control the behaviour of a patient
- patients who experience distressing symptoms are not able to achieve tasks to gain rewards which could make the patient feel like they are having an even worse time in the hospital - negatively contributing to the quality of the patients care it almost acts a discriminatory to patients who are find it difficult that others to improve their maladptative behaviour because of the degree of their condition