Comorbidities are when there are two or more medical conditions within the same patient. Individuals with autism are likely to have comorbid diagnoses which may impact the effectiveness of the behavior analytic intervention due to symptoms / behaviors associated with the co-occurring diagnosis or it's treatment. Having an understanding of the basics of the most common comorbid diagnoses and their associated treatment will provide attendees with foundational knowledge to assess the potential impact on treatment they may be overseeing. The most common comorbidities within the mental health domain are targeted in this presentation.

3 Learning Objectives

1. Attendees will be able to identify the comorbid mental health diagnoses most common in individuals with autism.
2. Attendees will be able to list two ways that comorbid conditions could unintentionally impact the effectiveness of behavior analytic intervention.
3. Attendees will be able to list two strategies that may help minimize the unintended impact of the comorbid condition on the behavior analytic intervention.

About the Presenter

Becca Tagg

Dr. Becca has formal training in school psychology, clinical psychology, clinical psychopharmacology, and behavior analysis. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings from schools and hospitals to outpatient settings and consulting with organizations. She is passionate about the professionalization of the fields of behavior analysis and psychology, leadership and supervision, and self-care and community care. Her clinical practice focuses on psychological testing, training future behavior analysts and psychologists, maternal mental health, and treatment of trauma and anxiety-based disorders. Dr. Becca is committed to strong clinical practices while continuing to nourish the other areas in life to flourish.