Trial Outcomes & Findings for Treatment of Severe Destructive Behavior: FCT Versus Wait-List Control (NCT NCT02483572)

Last Updated: 2023-09-18

Results Overview

The investigators will measure the rate of destructive behavior following successful treatment when implemented by participants' caregivers. Participants assigned to the wait-list control group will have their rate of destructive behavior assessed at the end of the wait period, prior to implementing treatment, to detect any changes in rate of destructive behavior due to the passage of time.

Recruitment status

TERMINATED

Study phase

Target enrollment

4 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

After treatment or initial wait period (approximately 16 weeks)

Results posted on

2023-09-18

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure	Functional Communication Training Participants assigned to this condition will receive treatment immediately after assignment. The investigators will implement functional communication training (FCT) to teach the participant an appropriate request response, known as a functional communication response or FCR. FCT training will continue until the participant emits independent FCRs in at least 90% of the 30-s intervals and until destructive behavior decreases by 90% (relative to pre-treatment baseline) for two consecutive sessions. Functional Communication Training: Functional communication training (FCT) is the most widely used treatment for severe destructive behavior that is maintained by social reinforcement, such as access to attention, tangible items, or escape from nonpreferred activities. Once clinicians determine the functional reinforcer for destructive behavior, the clinician can then teach the child an appropriate, functionally-equivalent response (e.g., exchanging a card to access parental attention)	Waitlist-Control Condition Participants assigned to the waitlist-control condition will not immediately receive services. These participants will be paired with an FCT-condition participant such that the no-treatment duration for these participants is yoked to the amount of time their respective FCT-condition participants receive services (e.g., most treatment last approximately 4 months, or 16 weeks); if Participant A finishes treatment in 16 weeks, Participant B will not receive treatment for at least 16 weeks for comparative measures). After the wait period, these participants will then receive the same services as those assigned to the immediate treatment (FCT Condition).
Overall Study STARTED	2	2
Overall Study COMPLETED	0	1
Overall Study NOT COMPLETED	2	1

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure	Functional Communication Training Participants assigned to this condition will receive treatment immediately after assignment. The investigators will implement functional communication training (FCT) to teach the participant an appropriate request response, known as a functional communication response or FCR. FCT training will continue until the participant emits independent FCRs in at least 90% of the 30-s intervals and until destructive behavior decreases by 90% (relative to pre-treatment baseline) for two consecutive sessions. Functional Communication Training: Functional communication training (FCT) is the most widely used treatment for severe destructive behavior that is maintained by social reinforcement, such as access to attention, tangible items, or escape from nonpreferred activities. Once clinicians determine the functional reinforcer for destructive behavior, the clinician can then teach the child an appropriate, functionally-equivalent response (e.g., exchanging a card to access parental attention)	Waitlist-Control Condition Participants assigned to the waitlist-control condition will not immediately receive services. These participants will be paired with an FCT-condition participant such that the no-treatment duration for these participants is yoked to the amount of time their respective FCT-condition participants receive services (e.g., most treatment last approximately 4 months, or 16 weeks); if Participant A finishes treatment in 16 weeks, Participant B will not receive treatment for at least 16 weeks for comparative measures). After the wait period, these participants will then receive the same services as those assigned to the immediate treatment (FCT Condition).
Overall Study Withdrawal by Subject	1	0
Overall Study Lost to Follow-up	1	0
Overall Study Physician Decision	0	1

Baseline Characteristics

Treatment of Severe Destructive Behavior: FCT Versus Wait-List Control

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure	Functional Communication Training n=2 Participants Participants assigned to this condition will receive treatment immediately after assignment. The investigators will implement functional communication training (FCT) to teach the participant an appropriate request response, known as a functional communication response or FCR. FCT training will continue until the participant emits independent FCRs in at least 90% of the 30-s intervals and until destructive behavior decreases by 90% (relative to pre-treatment baseline) for two consecutive sessions. Functional Communication Training: Functional communication training (FCT) is the most widely used treatment for severe destructive behavior that is maintained by social reinforcement, such as access to attention, tangible items, or escape from nonpreferred activities. Once clinicians determine the functional reinforcer for destructive behavior, the clinician can then teach the child an appropriate, functionally-equivalent response (e.g., exchanging a card to access parental attention)	Waitlist-Control Condition n=2 Participants Participants assigned to the waitlist-control condition will not immediately receive services. These participants will be paired with an FCT-condition participant such that the no-treatment duration for these participants is yoked to the amount of time their respective FCT-condition participants receive services (e.g., most treatment last approximately 4 months, or 16 weeks); if Participant A finishes treatment in 16 weeks, Participant B will not receive treatment for at least 16 weeks for comparative measures). After the wait period, these participants will then receive the same services as those assigned to the immediate treatment (FCT Condition).	Total n=4 Participants Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical <=18 years	2 Participants n=5 Participants	2 Participants n=7 Participants	4 Participants n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years	0 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical >=65 years	0 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous	6 years n=5 Participants	7 years n=7 Participants	7 years n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Female	0 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Male	2 Participants n=5 Participants	2 Participants n=7 Participants	4 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native	0 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Asian	0 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	0 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American	0 Participants n=5 Participants	1 Participants n=7 Participants	1 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) White	2 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	2 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race	0 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported	0 Participants n=5 Participants	1 Participants n=7 Participants	1 Participants n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment United States	2 participants n=5 Participants	2 participants n=7 Participants	4 participants n=5 Participants
Destructive behavior per min	1 responses per min n=5 Participants	.9 responses per min n=7 Participants	.9 responses per min n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: After treatment or initial wait period (approximately 16 weeks)

Population: We did not collect these posttest data because subjects were withdrawn prior to the posttest period (e.g., due to relocation).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Functional Communication Training Participants assigned to this condition will receive treatment immediately after assignment. The investigators will implement functional communication training (FCT) to teach the participant an appropriate request response, known as a functional communication response or FCR. FCT training will continue until the participant emits independent FCRs in at least 90% of the 30-s intervals and until destructive behavior decreases by 90% (relative to pre-treatment baseline) for two consecutive sessions. Functional Communication Training: Functional communication training (FCT) is the most widely used treatment for severe destructive behavior that is maintained by social reinforcement, such as access to attention, tangible items, or escape from nonpreferred activities. Once clinicians determine the functional reinforcer for destructive behavior, the clinician can then teach the child an appropriate, functionally-equivalent response (e.g., exchanging a card to access parental attention)	Waitlist-Control Condition n=1 Participants Participants assigned to the waitlist-control condition will not immediately receive services. These participants will be paired with an FCT-condition participant such that the no-treatment duration for these participants is yoked to the amount of time their respective FCT-condition participants receive services (e.g., most treatment last approximately 4 months, or 16 weeks); if Participant A finishes treatment in 16 weeks, Participant B will not receive treatment for at least 16 weeks for comparative measures). After the wait period, these participants will then receive the same services as those assigned to the immediate treatment (FCT Condition).
Rate of Destructive Behavior After Treatment or Initial Wait Period	—	2 responses per min Interval 0.0 to 4.6

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: After treatment or initial wait period (approximately 16 weeks)

Population: We withdrew both participants assigned to FCT. We completed the study with only one child assigned to the waitlist-control condition.

The investigators will measure the rate of functional communication responses (FCRs) following successful treatment when implemented by participants' caregivers. Participants assigned to the wait-list control group will have their rate of FCRs assessed at the end of the wait period, prior to implementing treatment, to detect any changes in rate of FCRs due to the passage of time.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Functional Communication Training Participants assigned to this condition will receive treatment immediately after assignment. The investigators will implement functional communication training (FCT) to teach the participant an appropriate request response, known as a functional communication response or FCR. FCT training will continue until the participant emits independent FCRs in at least 90% of the 30-s intervals and until destructive behavior decreases by 90% (relative to pre-treatment baseline) for two consecutive sessions. Functional Communication Training: Functional communication training (FCT) is the most widely used treatment for severe destructive behavior that is maintained by social reinforcement, such as access to attention, tangible items, or escape from nonpreferred activities. Once clinicians determine the functional reinforcer for destructive behavior, the clinician can then teach the child an appropriate, functionally-equivalent response (e.g., exchanging a card to access parental attention)	Waitlist-Control Condition n=1 Participants Participants assigned to the waitlist-control condition will not immediately receive services. These participants will be paired with an FCT-condition participant such that the no-treatment duration for these participants is yoked to the amount of time their respective FCT-condition participants receive services (e.g., most treatment last approximately 4 months, or 16 weeks); if Participant A finishes treatment in 16 weeks, Participant B will not receive treatment for at least 16 weeks for comparative measures). After the wait period, these participants will then receive the same services as those assigned to the immediate treatment (FCT Condition).
Rate of Functional Communication Responses (FCRs) After Treatment or Wait Period	—	0 responses per min Interval 0.0 to 0.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: End of treatment, following wait period (approximately 32 weeks)

Population: We completed the study with one child assigned to the waitlist-control condition.

After measuring the control group participant's rate of functional communication responses after approximately 4 months, the investigators will implement FCT treatment and assess the rate of functional communication responses following the control group participant's successful treatment (approximately 32 weeks following initial baseline). These outcome measures may demonstrate that functional communication responses exhibited by the wait-list control participants only increase to clinically significant levels following FCT treatment, rather than the passage of time.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Functional Communication Training Participants assigned to this condition will receive treatment immediately after assignment. The investigators will implement functional communication training (FCT) to teach the participant an appropriate request response, known as a functional communication response or FCR. FCT training will continue until the participant emits independent FCRs in at least 90% of the 30-s intervals and until destructive behavior decreases by 90% (relative to pre-treatment baseline) for two consecutive sessions. Functional Communication Training: Functional communication training (FCT) is the most widely used treatment for severe destructive behavior that is maintained by social reinforcement, such as access to attention, tangible items, or escape from nonpreferred activities. Once clinicians determine the functional reinforcer for destructive behavior, the clinician can then teach the child an appropriate, functionally-equivalent response (e.g., exchanging a card to access parental attention)	Waitlist-Control Condition n=1 Participants Participants assigned to the waitlist-control condition will not immediately receive services. These participants will be paired with an FCT-condition participant such that the no-treatment duration for these participants is yoked to the amount of time their respective FCT-condition participants receive services (e.g., most treatment last approximately 4 months, or 16 weeks); if Participant A finishes treatment in 16 weeks, Participant B will not receive treatment for at least 16 weeks for comparative measures). After the wait period, these participants will then receive the same services as those assigned to the immediate treatment (FCT Condition).
Rate of Functional Communication Responses After Treatment, Following Longer Wait Period (Wait-list Control Group Only)	—	1 responses per minute Interval 1.0 to 1.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: End of treatment, following wait period (approximately 32 weeks)

Population: Only one participant in the waitlist-control condition completed the study. We analyzed the caregiver-implemented treatment sessions for the child who completed the study.

After measuring the control group participant's rate of destructive behavior after approximately 4 months, the investigators will implement FCT treatment and assess the rate of destructive behavior following the control group participant's successful treatment (approximately 32 weeks following initial baseline). These outcome measures may demonstrate that destructive behavior exhibited by the wait-list control participants only reduces to clinically significant levels following FCT treatment, rather than the passage of time.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Functional Communication Training Participants assigned to this condition will receive treatment immediately after assignment. The investigators will implement functional communication training (FCT) to teach the participant an appropriate request response, known as a functional communication response or FCR. FCT training will continue until the participant emits independent FCRs in at least 90% of the 30-s intervals and until destructive behavior decreases by 90% (relative to pre-treatment baseline) for two consecutive sessions. Functional Communication Training: Functional communication training (FCT) is the most widely used treatment for severe destructive behavior that is maintained by social reinforcement, such as access to attention, tangible items, or escape from nonpreferred activities. Once clinicians determine the functional reinforcer for destructive behavior, the clinician can then teach the child an appropriate, functionally-equivalent response (e.g., exchanging a card to access parental attention)	Waitlist-Control Condition n=1 Participants Participants assigned to the waitlist-control condition will not immediately receive services. These participants will be paired with an FCT-condition participant such that the no-treatment duration for these participants is yoked to the amount of time their respective FCT-condition participants receive services (e.g., most treatment last approximately 4 months, or 16 weeks); if Participant A finishes treatment in 16 weeks, Participant B will not receive treatment for at least 16 weeks for comparative measures). After the wait period, these participants will then receive the same services as those assigned to the immediate treatment (FCT Condition).
Rate of Destructive Behavior After Treatment, Following Longer Wait Period (Wait-list Control Group Only)	—	0 responses per minute Interval 0.0 to 0.0

Adverse Events

Functional Communication Training

Serious events: 0 serious events

Other events: 0 other events

Deaths: 0 deaths

Waitlist-Control Condition

Serious events: 0 serious events

Other events: 0 other events

Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Wayne Fisher

University of Nebraska Medical Center

Phone: 4025598863

Email: [email protected]

Results disclosure agreements

Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
Publication restrictions are in place