Study aims to tame the 'extinction burst' in child behavior therapy
NCT ID NCT05925101
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at a common problem in behavior therapy for children with severe aggression or self-injury: sometimes, when therapists stop rewarding problem behaviors (called extinction), the child's behavior briefly gets worse before improving. This 'extinction burst' can be dangerous. Researchers will test 40 children aged 3-17 to see how often this happens and whether changing how rewards are given can reduce the risk. The goal is to make therapy safer and more predictable.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- behavioral intervention (extinction-based therapy)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help therapists predict and reduce the temporary increase in problem behavior that sometimes occurs when starting treatment, making therapy safer and more effective.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 40 children, so findings may not apply to everyone. The research focuses on understanding a side effect, not on testing a new cure or treatment.
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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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