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Extensions of Resurgence as Choice

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · NCT05537610

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 3–17 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
30
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
February 1, 2023
Record last updated
April 17, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

Although behavioral treatments for decreasing destructive behavior, such as differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA), are effective in the clinic, problem behavior often returns when a caregiver does not give the child their way in the natural environment (e.g., caregiver is busy with an infant sibling). This form of treatment relapse is known as resurgence. The goal of the current study is to evaluate whether alternating sessions in which the child can have their way (i.e., "on" sessions) with sessions in which the child can not have their way (i.e., "off" sessions) helps to mitigate resurgence.

Being studied: CDT; Control

Conditions: Problem Behavior; Aggression; Self-Injury

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • boys and girls from ages 3 to 17;
  • problem behavior that occurs at least 10 times a day, despite previous treatment;
  • problem behavior maintained by social positive reinforcement;
  • stable protective supports for self-injurious behavior (e.g., helmet) with no anticipated changes during enrollment;
  • on a stable psychoactive drug regimen for at least 10 half-lives per drug or drug free;
  • stable educational plan and placement with no anticipated changes during the child's treatment.

Exclusion Criteria

  • patients who do not meet the inclusion criteria;
  • patients currently receiving 15 or more hours per week of treatment for their problem behavior;
  • DSM-5 diagnosis of Rett syndrome or other degenerative conditions (e.g., inborn error of metabolism);
  • a comorbid health condition or major mental disorder that would interfere with study participation;
  • occurrence of self-injury during study assessments that presents a risk of serious or permanent harm (e.g., detached retinas) based on our routine clinical-risk assessment;
  • patients requiring changes to protective supports for self-injury or drug treatment, but we will invite these patients to participate when protective supports and drug regimen are stable.

Recruiting US locations

  • Children's Specialized Hospital-Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services

    Somerset, NJ 08873

    Site contact: Brian Greer, PhD · 8488008505 · brian.greer@rutgers.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Brian Greer, PhD · 8488008505 · brian.greer@rutgers.edu
  • Serena Claiborne · 8488008504 · SClaiborne@childrens-specialized.org
All healthy volunteers studies in New Jersey →
Extensions of Resurgence as Choice (NCT05537610) | Bored Studies