Beyond Medication Management: Integrating Behavioral Pharmacology & Psychopharmacology in Interdisciplinary Care for Individuals with Autism
Thursday, October 22, 2026
4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Virtual Event
Earn 3 Learning CEUs
Jill Harper, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, CDE
Abstract:
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may receive psychotropic medications to address co-occurring behavioral or psychiatric concerns while simultaneously participating in applied behavior analysis (ABA) services. Although psychopharmacology focuses on the effects and clinical use of medications to influence behavior, mood, and psychological functioning, behavioral pharmacology examines medication effects through the lens of behavior, including how pharmacological variables interact with environmental contingencies and observable behavior. Integrating these perspectives can provide a more comprehensive understanding of changes in an individual’s functioning following medication initiation, discontinuation, or dosage adjustments.
This presentation will explore the distinction between psychopharmacology and behavioral pharmacology and discuss how behavior analysts can contribute to interdisciplinary medication-related decision-making while remaining within their professional scope of practice. Particular attention will be given to the use of systematic behavioral measurement, functional assessment, single-case methodology, and ongoing data analysis to evaluate changes in target behavior, adaptive functioning, skill acquisition, and potential medication-related effects. The presentation will emphasize collaboration among behavior analysts, physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, caregivers, and other members of the interdisciplinary team to establish shared treatment goals and develop meaningful measures of treatment response. Case-based examples will illustrate how behavioral data can supplement medical information and caregiver reports when evaluating treatment outcomes. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for promoting interdisciplinary communication, improving objective measurement of medication-associated behavioral changes, and supporting data-informed, person-centered care for individuals with ASD.
Objectives:
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- Differentiate behavioral pharmacology from psychopharmacology and describe the relevance of each to services for individuals with ASD.
- Identify behavioral measurement strategies that can be used to objectively evaluate changes associated with pharmacological interventions.
- Describe the role of the behavior analyst within an interdisciplinary team while maintaining appropriate professional and ethical boundaries related to medication.
- Discuss an interdisciplinary framework for communicating behavioral data to medical providers, caregivers, and other treatment-team members.
