Using Behavioral Economics to Mitigate Relapse of Problem Behavior in an Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Population
Oakland University
Summary
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?
Description
Behavioral treatments can be an effective means to treat problem behavior. One of the most common behavioral treatments is differential reinforcement of alternative behavior, frequently implemented as functional communication training. Most demonstrations of behavioral treatments, including functional communication training, are conducted in highly controlled settings by trained therapists. When these treatments are implemented in community settings (e.g., an individual's home) by caregivers, they will be challenged, which can lead to the recurrence and sustained relapse of problem behavior. R…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 6–21 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Boys and girls from ages 6 to 21 * Engage in problem behavior * Diagnosis of some type of intellectual and developmental disability Exclusion Criteria: * Not meeting the inclusion criteria
Interventions
- BehavioralProgressive 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.
- BehavioralDifferential Reinforcement of Alternative (DRA) Behavior with Extinction
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.
Locations (2)
- Auburn UniversityAuburn, Alabama
- Oakland UniversityRochester, Michigan