A Randomized Trial of Caregiver-Mediated Function-Based Elopement Treatment for Autistic Children
Saved in:
| Title: | A Randomized Trial of Caregiver-Mediated Function-Based Elopement Treatment for Autistic Children |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Mindy Scheithauer (ORCID |
| Source: | Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice. 2025 29(8):1973-1986. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 14 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Adult Education |
| Descriptors: | Behavior Problems, Children, Preadolescents, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Program Effectiveness, Parent Education, Parent Role, Intervention, Functional Behavioral Assessment, Safety |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | Aberrant Behavior Checklist, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Childhood Autism Rating Scale |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13623613251330388 |
| ISSN: | 1362-3613 1461-7005 |
| Abstract: | Elopement is a common and dangerous behavior among autistic children. Behavioral treatments can reduce elopement, but most evidence comes from small-N evaluations in specialized settings with strategies varying across studies. The current study compared the efficacy of the caregiver-mediated function-based elopement treatment to parent education program (PEP) in a 16-week randomized clinical trial of 76 autistic children (age = 4-12 years). Function-based elopement treatment involves 12 weekly appointments aimed at improving safety, identifying the function of elopement, and implementing subsequent function-based treatment strategies. No group differences were observed on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Hyperactivity (primary outcome). Significant improvement from baseline to endpoint in function-based elopement treatment compared to parent education program participants was observed for secondary outcomes, including caregiver ratings of safety measures (p < 0.01), severity of elopement based on the Elopement Questionnaire (p < 0.01), and caregiver-collected data on elopement (p < 0.01). The Clinical Global Impression--Improvement Scale (CGI-I) rated by a treatment-blind evaluator found 31.6% of function-based elopement treatment participants improved compared to 2.6% in parent education program (p = 0.001). Improvements were maintained at a 28-week follow-up. Attrition was 5.26%, and no significant adverse events were deemed related to treatment. Function-based elopement treatment was superior to parent education program on elopement-specific outcomes and appears safe and acceptable. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1476855 |
| Database: | ERIC |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | Elopement is a common and dangerous behavior among autistic children. Behavioral treatments can reduce elopement, but most evidence comes from small-N evaluations in specialized settings with strategies varying across studies. The current study compared the efficacy of the caregiver-mediated function-based elopement treatment to parent education program (PEP) in a 16-week randomized clinical trial of 76 autistic children (age = 4-12 years). Function-based elopement treatment involves 12 weekly appointments aimed at improving safety, identifying the function of elopement, and implementing subsequent function-based treatment strategies. No group differences were observed on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Hyperactivity (primary outcome). Significant improvement from baseline to endpoint in function-based elopement treatment compared to parent education program participants was observed for secondary outcomes, including caregiver ratings of safety measures (p < 0.01), severity of elopement based on the Elopement Questionnaire (p < 0.01), and caregiver-collected data on elopement (p < 0.01). The Clinical Global Impression--Improvement Scale (CGI-I) rated by a treatment-blind evaluator found 31.6% of function-based elopement treatment participants improved compared to 2.6% in parent education program (p = 0.001). Improvements were maintained at a 28-week follow-up. Attrition was 5.26%, and no significant adverse events were deemed related to treatment. Function-based elopement treatment was superior to parent education program on elopement-specific outcomes and appears safe and acceptable. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1362-3613 1461-7005 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13623613251330388 |
