Trial Outcomes & Findings for Translational Research to Inform Interventions for Challenging Behavior (NCT NCT04842500)
NCT ID: NCT04842500
Last Updated: 2025-02-06
Results Overview
This term describes the highest rate of responding observed during extinction and will be depicted as a proportion of baseline. For example, assuming the mean rate of responding during the final three sessions of baseline is 3 responses per minute (i.e., \[2.8 rpm + 3.2 rpm + 3 rpm\] / 3 = 3 rpm), and the highest rate of responding during a single session of extinction is 3.4 rpm, then peak response rate for this hypothetical individual would be 1.13 (i.e., 3.4 / 3 = 1.13). This value will serve as the primary dependent variable for each participant in all between-groups comparisons in our data-analysis plan.
Recruitment status
COMPLETED
Study phase
NA
Target enrollment
86 participants
Primary outcome timeframe
This measure was obtained throughout the primary assessment (i.e., the extinction challenge)
Results posted on
2025-02-06
Participant Flow
Recruitment entailed flyer distribution through relevant program directors. Directors vetted interest and only passed along contact information of individuals from their organization who expressed interest in the study.
Prior to randomization, all participants completed an assessment (i.e., the progressive-ratio analysis) that generated our matching variable (i.e., the "breakpoint" produced by the targeted reinforcer). Five participants dropped out during this assessment (prior to randomization). The reasons for dropping out were scheduling conflicts (x4) and a significant health concern unrelated to this study (x1).
Participant milestones
| Measure |
"Cheap" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Cheap" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall Study
STARTED
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
21
|
|
Overall Study
COMPLETED
|
15
|
19
|
18
|
17
|
|
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
Reasons for withdrawal
| Measure |
"Cheap" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Cheap" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
Overall Study
Protocol Violation
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
Baseline Characteristics
It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
Baseline characteristics by cohort
| Measure |
"Cheap" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
n=15 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Cheap" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
n=19 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
n=18 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
n=17 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
Total
n=69 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
|
13 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
16 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
17 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
16 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
62 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
|
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
1 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
7 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Sex: Female, Male
Female
|
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
10 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
6 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
29 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Sex: Female, Male
Male
|
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
9 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
13 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
11 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
40 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
1 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
|
15 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
19 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
17 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
17 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
68 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
|
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
1 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
2 Participants
n=21 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
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
1 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
5 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
|
14 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
16 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
15 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
16 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
61 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
0 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Region of Enrollment
United States
|
15 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
19 Participants
n=7 Participants
|
18 Participants
n=5 Participants
|
17 Participants
n=4 Participants
|
69 Participants
n=21 Participants
|
|
Disability
Autism Spectrum Disorder
|
2 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
4 Participants
n=7 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
2 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
4 Participants
n=4 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
12 Participants
n=21 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
|
Disability
Deaf-Blindness
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=21 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
|
Disability
Deafness
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=21 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
|
Disability
Emotional Disturbance
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=21 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
|
Disability
Hearing Impairment
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=21 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
|
Disability
Intellectual Disability
|
11 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
16 Participants
n=7 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
17 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
15 Participants
n=4 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
59 Participants
n=21 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
|
Disability
Multiple Disabilities
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=21 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
|
Disability
Orthopedic Impairment
|
1 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
1 Participants
n=7 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
2 Participants
n=21 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
|
Disability
Other Health Impairment
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
2 Participants
n=7 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
2 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
5 Participants
n=4 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
9 Participants
n=21 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
|
Disability
Specific Learning Disability
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=21 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
|
Disability
Speech or Language Impairment
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
1 Participants
n=7 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
1 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
2 Participants
n=21 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
|
Disability
Traumatic Brain Injury
|
2 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
2 Participants
n=21 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
|
Disability
Visual Impairment, Including Blindness
|
1 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=7 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
1 Participants
n=5 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
0 Participants
n=4 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
2 Participants
n=21 Participants • It was possible for participants to be diagnosed with more than one disability
|
PRIMARY outcome
Timeframe: This measure was obtained throughout the primary assessment (i.e., the extinction challenge)This term describes the highest rate of responding observed during extinction and will be depicted as a proportion of baseline. For example, assuming the mean rate of responding during the final three sessions of baseline is 3 responses per minute (i.e., \[2.8 rpm + 3.2 rpm + 3 rpm\] / 3 = 3 rpm), and the highest rate of responding during a single session of extinction is 3.4 rpm, then peak response rate for this hypothetical individual would be 1.13 (i.e., 3.4 / 3 = 1.13). This value will serve as the primary dependent variable for each participant in all between-groups comparisons in our data-analysis plan.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
"Cheap" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
n=15 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Cheap" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
n=19 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
n=18 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
n=17 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Peak Response Rate During Extinction
|
1.58 Proportion of baseline (frequency)
Standard Deviation 1.77
|
0.85 Proportion of baseline (frequency)
Standard Deviation 0.85
|
1.3 Proportion of baseline (frequency)
Standard Deviation 0.87
|
0.43 Proportion of baseline (frequency)
Standard Deviation 0.41
|
PRIMARY outcome
Timeframe: PRA breakpoints were obtained during pre-assessment and were used as a matching variable prior to random assignment.The progressive-ratio reinforcer analysis (PRA) is a game of diminishing returns that is considered an assessment of reinforcer value (e.g., if a participant does not value the reinforcer, they will quit sooner than a participant that does value the reinforcer). During the assessment, we increased the "price" (i.e., the schedule value) of reinforcers each time a participant earns two reinforcers at a currently established price. The breakpoint describes the "price" (schedule value; e.g., FR1, FR4, FR7) of the last obtained reinforcer prior to response cessation (i.e., the breakpoint is the last schedule value that supported enough responding to produce a reinforcer, before the participant quit playing the game). Higher breakpoints are interpreted as reflecting higher-value reinforcers. Lower breakpoints are interpreted as reflecting lower-value reinforcers.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
"Cheap" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
n=15 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Cheap" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
n=19 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
n=18 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
n=17 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Schedule Value at Breakpoint
|
16.45 Schedule Value at Breakpoint
Standard Deviation 13.24
|
15.14 Schedule Value at Breakpoint
Standard Deviation 10.21
|
16.94 Schedule Value at Breakpoint
Standard Deviation 14.53
|
18.82 Schedule Value at Breakpoint
Standard Deviation 15.07
|
PRIMARY outcome
Timeframe: Pmax values were obtained during pre-assessment and were used as a scaling variable to set baseline schedule parameters.The progressive fixed-ratio reinforcer analysis (PFRA) is an assessment of consumer demand that first establishes how much of a reinforcer a participant would consume when consumption is free of constraint (i.e., when participants can have as much of the reinforcer as they want; referred to as "bliss-point consumption"). With bliss-point consumption established, PFRA evaluates how much a participant will "spend" (respond) to maintain bliss-point consumption patterns as price (schedule value) is increased. Unlike PRA, prices in the PFRA are held constant within each session and only increase across sessions. Initially, participants "spend" more. Eventually, they "spend" less. The price that produces maximum "spending" (i.e., higher and lower prices yield lower response outputs) is referred to as Pmax. Pmax is one way to quantify a reinforcer's value. That is, reinforcers that produce high Pmax have more value than reinforcers that produce low Pmax.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
"Cheap" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
n=15 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Cheap" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
n=19 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
n=18 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
n=17 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The Schedule Value Designated as Pmax
|
7.6 The Schedule Value Designated as Pmax
Standard Deviation 4.42
|
7.32 The Schedule Value Designated as Pmax
Standard Deviation 4.23
|
9 The Schedule Value Designated as Pmax
Standard Deviation 4.12
|
7.71 The Schedule Value Designated as Pmax
Standard Deviation 4.44
|
PRIMARY outcome
Timeframe: This measure was obtained throughout the primary assessment (i.e., the extinction challenge)This term describes the latency from session onset to eventual response cessation during the extinction challenge.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
"Cheap" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
n=15 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Cheap" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
n=19 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
n=18 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
n=17 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Response Latency
|
213.3 seconds
Standard Deviation 185.6
|
96 seconds
Standard Deviation 114.4
|
467.4 seconds
Standard Deviation 607.9
|
119.8 seconds
Standard Deviation 132.1
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SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: This measure was obtained throughout the primary assessment (i.e., the extinction challenge)In addition to between-groups differences in peak-response rate (primary dependent variable), the investigators will also compare between-groups differences in the number of sessions required to achieve response elimination during extinction.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
"Cheap" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
n=15 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Cheap" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
n=19 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
n=18 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
n=17 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
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|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Number of Sessions in Extinction
|
1.2 Number of sessions in extinction
Standard Deviation 0.41
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1.05 Number of sessions in extinction
Standard Deviation 0.23
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1.89 Number of sessions in extinction
Standard Deviation 1.94
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1.06 Number of sessions in extinction
Standard Deviation 0.24
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SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: Duration values were obtained during pre-assessment and were used as a scaling variable to set baseline schedule parameters.The investigators will measure the total duration of PFRA sessions (in seconds) at Pmax to establish baseline-session parameters.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
"Cheap" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
n=15 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Cheap" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
n=19 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, minus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
n=18 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the beginning of the relevant appointment, before within-appointment reinforcer consumption has had an opportunity to approximate demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
"Expensive" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
n=17 Participants
Pre-extinction baseline unit price for the programmed reinforcer will be its Pmax, plus one half of the distance between its Pmax and its breakpoint. Extinction will be introduced at the end of the relevant appointment, after within-appointment reinforcer consumption has approximated demand.
Demand Informed Moderator Analysis: This analysis is designed to determine the degree to which relative price, and the timing of extinction, interact to increase or abate responding during extinction (thereby highlighting mechanisms of control).
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall Session Duration
|
630.87 seconds
Standard Deviation 462.36
|
687.84 seconds
Standard Deviation 843.27
|
668.89 seconds
Standard Deviation 757.57
|
788.88 seconds
Standard Deviation 930.85
|
Adverse Events
"Cheap" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths
"Cheap" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths
"Expensive" Unit Price, Establishing Operation
Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths
"Expensive" Unit Price, Abolishing Operation
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
Results disclosure agreements
- Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
- Publication restrictions are in place