Can a simple therapy schedule stop problem behavior from coming back?
NCT ID NCT05537610
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests a behavioral therapy for children aged 3 to 17 who have frequent problem behavior like aggression or self-injury. The therapy uses a schedule where children sometimes get what they want and sometimes don't, to teach them that the alternative behavior works but not always. The goal is to see if this approach reduces the return of problem behavior when caregivers can't give in.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- behavioral therapy (differential reinforcement of alternative behavior with alternating reinforcement sessions)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to a more effective behavioral therapy that reduces relapse of problem behavior in children.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 30 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The therapy is behavioral and may not work for all children.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Children's Specialized Hospital-Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services
RECRUITINGSomerset, New Jersey, 08873, United States
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