At a glance
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Basic and Clinical Studies in Reinforcing Positive Behaviors in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
In Brief
A clinical study evaluating Functional communication training for Problem Behavior and 2 related conditions. Completed, enrolled 17 participants across 1 site.
Detailed Summary
Background: Functional communication training (FCT) is a commonly used intervention for teaching appropriate communication skills to children with intellectual disabilities who exhibit severe destructive behavior. Resurgence as Choice (RaC) Theory, a quantitative model of behavior, may help to explain why treatment relapse often occurs after FCT. This project will use the predictions of RaC to improve FCT treatments. Objective: To test the predictions made by RaC with human participants who exhibit severe destructive behavior. Eligibility: Children between the ages of 3 and 19 who display destructive behavior that is maintained by social consequences, who have IQ and adaptive behavior scores between 35 and 70, who are on a stable psychoactive drug regimen (or drug free) for at least 10 half-lives of each medication with no anticipated changes, and who have a stable educational plan and placement will be be eligible to enroll.
Study Details
Timeline
Interventions
During functional communication training (FCT), the social consequence (e.g., attention, toys, breaks from instructions) that heretofore reinforced destructive behavior (i.e., as determined through a functional analysis) is delivered contingent on an appropriate communication response, while destructive behavior is on extinction (i.e., reinforcers are no longer provided). For example, if a functional analysis shows that aggression is reinforced by escape from demands, FCT would typically involve (a) teaching the child to access breaks from demands via a functional communication response (FCR; e.g., saying, "Break, please") and (b) placing destructive behavior on extinction (i.e., continuing with scheduled demands independent of destructive behavior).