A Feasibility Randomized Clinical Trial of a Structured Function-Based Intervention for Elopement in Children with Autis
- PDF / 914,912 Bytes
- 10 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 48 Downloads / 174 Views
ORIGINAL PAPER
A Feasibility Randomized Clinical Trial of a Structured Function‑Based Intervention for Elopement in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Mindy Scheithauer1,2 · Nathan A. Call1,2 · Joanna Lomas Mevers1,2 · Courtney E. McCracken1,3 · Lawrence Scahill1 Accepted: 10 October 2020 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Elopement is a common and dangerous concern in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There is evidence that behavior analytic treatments can successfully treat elopement, but the research is limited due to small samples and treatment components varying across studies. The current study evaluated the feasibility of studying a manualized intervention for elopement, based on strategies from single-subject research, in a randomized clinical trial with 24 individuals with ASD. Results demonstrated that recruitment was feasible; the manual was acceptable to parents; and therapists followed the manual with high-integrity. Initial efficacy results measured by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, Clinical Global Impression Scale, and a Home Elopement Safety Checklist suggested improvement in the treatment group that should be studied in future research. Keywords Autism spectrum disorder · Elopement · Applied behavior analysis · Treatment · Intervention · Randomized clinical trial The most recent publication from the Centers for Disease Control reports that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 18.5 per 1000 school-age children (Maenner et al. 2020). The defining features of ASD include impaired social communication, repetitive behavior, and restricted interests (American Psychiatric Association 2013). Children with ASD also exhibit a wide range of behavioral problems including elopement, hyperactivity, aggression, tantrums, self-injury, and noncompliance (Soke et al. 2016, 2018). Leaving adult supervision, also called elopement, is among the most challenging behaviors exhibited by children with ASD. Some children with ASD wander off without destination, while others may be highly fixated on a specific destination or object. Pursuit of that interest may cause the * Mindy Scheithauer [email protected] 1
Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Autism and Related Disorders, 1920 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
2
Marcus Autism Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, 1920 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
3
Present Address: Emory University School of Medicine, Biostatistics Core, Atlanta, GA, USA
child to bolt to a toy aisle in a store, across a parking lot, or even into traffic. Based on caregiver report, 49% to 68% of children with ASD have a history of elopement (Anderson et al. 2012; Pereira-Smith et al. 2019), with 27% eloping in the last year (Kiely et al. 2016). Not surprisingly, caregivers of children with ASD describe elopement as an extremely stressful event (Anderson et al. 2012; National Autism Association [NAA], 2017; Woodard 2018). The danger of elopement is amplified in children w
Data Loading...
