Keeping reductions in self-injury and aggression for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
A Single-Arm Pilot trial for Mitigating Relapse of Severe Problem Behavior
['FUNDING_R21'] · AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT AUBURN · NIH-11176976
This project tries a behavioral approach to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities keep improvements in self-injury and aggressive behavior after treatment ends.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT AUBURN (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Auburn, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11176976 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If I or a family member has intellectual or developmental disabilities and severe self-injury or aggression, this project focuses on ways to prevent those behaviors from coming back after they get better. It builds on proven behavior therapies like functional communication training that often work well in clinics but sometimes stop working when routines, caregivers, or rewards change. The team will deliver intensive behavior-analytic interventions in a specialized setting and test procedures designed to reduce relapse when treatment is moved to new people or places or when alternative rewards are reduced. The work is a pilot carried out at Auburn with trained staff and could include training for caregivers to help changes hold up in daily life.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with intellectual or developmental disabilities who currently show severe self-injury or aggressive behavior and who can participate in behavior-analytic therapy at Auburn or an affiliated clinic.
Not a fit: People without IDD, those without severe problem behaviors, or individuals who cannot engage with behavioral interventions or attend in-person sessions may not benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help people with IDD keep behavior improvements longer, reduce injury and restrictive placements, and lower strain on families and care systems.
How similar studies have performed: Behavior-analytic treatments like functional communication training reliably reduce severe problem behavior, but specific methods to prevent relapse after context or reinforcement changes are relatively new and still being piloted.
Where this research is happening
Auburn, UNITED STATES
- AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT AUBURN — Auburn, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FALLIGANT, JOHN — AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT AUBURN
- Study coordinator: FALLIGANT, JOHN
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.