Preventing Relapse of Problem Behavior Through Behavioral Economics: A Translational Analysis

Part of paid clinical trials in Auburn, Alabama.

Sponsor
Oakland University
Study ID
NCT06651606
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Problem Behavior

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
6 Years - 21 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Progressive Ratio Training (PRT) — BEHAVIORAL
    Progressive ratio training (PRT) is used to prevent recurrence of the proxy response when extinction errors occur. PRT involves providing a reinforcer for the proxy response on a geometric progressive ratio (PR) scale. The schedule requirement will increase for the target response each time a reinforcer is delivered. For example, once a reinforcer is delivered on the PR-2 schedule, the requirement will increase to a PR-4, then to a PR-8, -16, -32, etc.
  • Differential Reinforcement of Alternative (DRA) Behavior with Extinction — BEHAVIORAL
    In DRA with extinction, the proxy for problem behavior is placed on extinction and no longer produces reinforcement. The proxy for communication behavior produces reinforcement on a fixed-ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement.

Study Details

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare a novel tactic for mitigating reinstatement compared to the current standard of care approach using a translational-treatment model. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. how well does progressive ratio training mitigate response-dependent reinstatement compared to the standard of care approach? 2. how well does progressive ratio training mitigate response-independent reinstatement compared to the standard of care approach?

Key Dates

Start date
Sep 30, 2024
Status verified
Aug 2025
Primary completion
Mar 10, 2026
Completion
Sep 10, 2026

Study Design

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

Arms

  • Experimental: Progressive Ratio Training
    Participants in the progressive ratio training Arm will experience the novel reinstatement-mitigation tactic: Progressive Ratio Training (PRT). Progressive ratio training (PRT) is used to prevent recurrence of the proxy response when extinction errors occur. PRT involves providing a reinforcer for the proxy response on a geometric progressive ratio (PR) scale. The schedule requirement will increase for the target response each time a reinforcer is delivered. For example, once a reinforcer is delivered on the PR-2 schedule, the requirement will increase to a PR-4, then to a PR-8, -16, -32, etc.
  • Experimental: Standard of Care
    Participants in the standard of care Arm will receive an analogue to the standard of care approach for problem behavior: differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) with extinction. In DRA with extinction, the proxy for problem behavior will cease to produce reinforcement while the proxy for communication behavior will produce reinforcement on a fixed-ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement.

Primary Outcome Measure

Treatment Effectiveness [ Time Frame: 2 years ]

Central Contacts

Locations (2)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Auburn UniversityAuburnAlabama36849
John M Falligant, PhD
[email protected]
334-844-6483
John M Falligant, PhD (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)
Oakland UniversityRochesterMichigan48309
Michael P Kranak, PhD
[email protected]
248-370-4251
Michael P Kranak, PhD (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

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