Using behavioral strategies to reduce problem behaviors in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Official title: Using Behavioral Economics to Mitigate Relapse of Problem Behavior in an Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Population
Funded at Oakland University · NIH-10986782 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at ways to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who struggle with behaviors like aggression and self-injury by teaching their caregivers effective communication strategies they can use at home, making it easier to keep these behaviors from coming back when they leave a treatment setting.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oakland University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $425,955 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD113794-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10986782 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who exhibit problem behaviors such as aggression or self-injury.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have intellectual and developmental disabilities or who do not exhibit problem behaviors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who exhibit problem behaviors such as aggression and self-injury. It aims to implement behavioral treatments, particularly functional communication training, in community settings like homes, where caregivers can apply these strategies. The study will explore methods to prevent relapse of these behaviors, which often occur when treatments are moved from controlled environments to everyday life. By addressing the challenges caregivers face, the research seeks to improve the effectiveness of behavioral interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective strategies for managing problem behaviors in individuals with IDD, ultimately improving their quality of life and reducing caregiver burden.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that behavioral treatments can be effective in controlled settings, but this approach aims to test these methods in real-world environments, making it a novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
Oakland University
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kranak, Michael — Oakland University
- Study coordinator: Kranak, Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Social stress and smoking: why disadvantaged young adults struggle to quit
This grant looks at how daily social stress affects if and when disadvantaged young adults who smoke can quit and stay quit.
-
Learning from remission and relapse in lupus (SLE)
Researchers are studying people with systemic lupus erythematosus who are in long-term remission without steroids or immunosuppressants to understand their immune cells, brain function, and what might predict relapse.
-
Learning from Remission and Relapse in SLE
A program to study people with systemic lupus erythematosus who are in long-term remission to understand immune and brain signals that might predict relapse.
-
Alternative NF-kB activation after chemotherapy in ovarian cancer
This grant studies how ovarian cancer might come back after chemotherapy by looking at specific signaling pathways in cancer cells and the tumor environment.
-
Predictors of autoimmunity onset and relapse in skin
A study to understand what biological signals in skin predict when autoimmune diseases start, flare, or worsen in people at risk.
-
Determinants of TB Control, Relapse, and Reinfection
A large, multi-year study aims to understand why some people who are treated for TB still have persistent infection or relapse, with the goal of improving prevention and treatment.
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.