This article describes three studies that explore the relationship between headaches and the Type A behaviour pattern. The results of the first study demonstrated that in a student sample individuals who suffer from more fequent headaches and headaches of higher intensity have significantly elevated Type A scores. The second study complemented the first by showing that the majority of chronic headache sufferers displayed the Type A behaviour pattern; and the findings of the two studies together suggested that between 68% and 90% of chronic headache sufferers may be classified as Type A's. The results of the third study indicated that individuals whose headaches tended to be associated with negative affect (depression, anxiety, hostility, tiredness, confusion and unsureness) had significantly higher Type A scores than individuals whose headaches tended not to be associated with negative affect. It was suggested that the Type A behaviour pattern is a risk factor for headaches (as well as coronary heart disease and other disorders) as it resulted in the frequent experience of stress and negative affect which in turn could lead to headaches. Also, Type A individuals probably responded to headaches with more distress than those not exhibiting this behavioural style so that they were more likely to become trapped in the stress-headache spiral.

A brief physical restraint procedure combined with differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviour was used to reduce the tantrum behaviour of a five-year-old severely intellectually disabled girl in a classroom setting. Daily frequency recording of tantrum behaviour demonstrated a marked reduction of tantrums in classroom settings following intervention which was maintained at followup. Staff also reported concomitant increases in the subject's participation in class activities. Spontaneous generalization of reductions in tantrum behaviour to non-programmed settings and staff was not found.

Some recent developments in the use of interrupted time-series analysis (ITSA) are described with particular reference to the detection of effects with short data series such as those often encountered in applied behaviour analysis. The necessity to perform the sometimes troublesome model-identification procedure is questioned, and the likely incidence of Type 1 and 2 errors is discussed. Conclusions are drawn to suggest that ITSA may be safely applied to data that are typical of those collected in applied behaviour analysis.

Difficulties in settling children to sleep and night waking are common problems faced by parents with young children. The effectiveness of parent-managed behavioural intervention is examined in this study of four children which employs a multiple-baseline-design across subjects. Components of the intervention included: establishing regular bedtime routines; paying attention to the children before bed in the living areas and staying with the children only briefly when settling them in bed; adopting procedures for ignoring disruptive bedtime behaviour and night waking; and giving praise for appropriate behaviour. Complete success in settling the three children who were difficult at bedtime was achieved in five to fourteen days. Persistent night waking in all four children was eliminated in five to thirteen nights.