Extensions of Resurgence as Choice

Part of paid clinical trials in Somerset, New Jersey.

Sponsor
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Study ID
NCT05537610
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Aggression
  • Problem Behavior
  • Self-Injury

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
3 Years - 17 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • CDT — BEHAVIORAL
    In this condition, the clinician will alternate sessions with reinforcement for the alternative response and sessions without reinforcement for the alternative response during extinction treatment of problem behavior. According to RaC2, alternating periods of reinforcer availability and unavailability for the alternative response will teach the participant that the alternative response alone produces reinforcement but not always. The investigators predict that resurgence of problem behavior will lower, shorter lasting, and with fewer participants experiencing resurgence than those in the control group.
  • Control — BEHAVIORAL
    This condition emulates a traditional approach to treatment in which the clinician does not alternate sessions with reinforcement for the alternative response and sessions without reinforcement for the alternative response during extinction treatment of problem behavior. The investigators predict that resurgence of problem behavior will higher, longer lasting, and with more participants experiencing resurgence than those in the CDT group.

Study Details

Although behavioral treatments for decreasing destructive behavior, such as differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA), are effective in the clinic, problem behavior often returns when a caregiver does not give the child their way in the natural environment (e.g., caregiver is busy with an infant sibling). This form of treatment relapse is known as resurgence. The goal of the current study is to evaluate whether alternating sessions in which the child can have their way (i.e., "on" sessions) with sessions in which the child can not have their way (i.e., "off" sessions) helps to mitigate resurgence.

Key Dates

Start date
Feb 1, 2023
Status verified
Apr 2026
Primary completion
Nov 1, 2027
Completion
Jan 31, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment
30 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Contingency-Discrimintation Training (CDT)
    In this condition, the clinician will alternate sessions with reinforcement for the alternative response and sessions without reinforcement for the alternative response during extinction treatment of problem behavior. According to RaC2, alternating periods of reinforcer availability and unavailability for the alternative response will teach the participant that the alternative response alone produces reinforcement but not always. The investigators predict that resurgence of problem behavior will lower, shorter lasting, and with fewer participants experiencing resurgence than those in the control group.
  • Active Comparator: Control
    This condition emulates a traditional approach to treatment in which the clinician does not alternate sessions with reinforcement for the alternative response and sessions without reinforcement for the alternative response during extinction treatment of problem behavior. The investigators predict that resurgence of problem behavior will higher, longer lasting, and with more participants experiencing resurgence than those in the CDT group.

Primary Outcome Measure

Rate of problem behavior during resurgence test [ Time Frame: 5 years ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Children's Specialized Hospital-Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and ServicesSomersetNew Jersey08873
Brian Greer, PhD
[email protected]
8488008505
Serena Claiborne
[email protected]
8488008504

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By research site
Children's Specialized Hospital-Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services· Somerset, NJ

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