Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity
Published on: August 21, 2015
Increased Treatment Intensity Promotes Reduced Attrition in Parent Training Programs for Children With Challenging
Matthew L Edelstein1,2, Joshua A Mellott1, Alicia L Sullivan1
1Department of Behavioral Psychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
None:
BackgroundBehavioral Parent Training (BPT) Programs are highly efficacious but are limited due to high attrition. We sought to reduce attrition through modifications to the intensity level (i.e., number of hours per week) with which services are delivered.MethodsWe conducted a nonrandomized, parametric study of three distinct treatment intensity levels (high, medium, and low) with 116 participants with clinically significant challenging behavior and their caregivers. We examined rates of attrition, within appointment behavior reduction, and pre-post changes in standardized measures across all treatment groups.ResultsRates of attrition varied by intensity level, with higher intensities producing less dropout (i.e., 6% in high intensity vs. 36% in low intensity). Statistically significant reductions in pre-post measures with large effects sizes were found in both the high and moderate intensity levels (d's = 0.95-1.2 and 0.56-1.0, respectively).ConclusionsOptimizing behavioral service delivery can address limitations in current BPT programs and may have substantial public policy implications.
Related Concept Videos
Operant Conditioning Intervention
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
Behavior Modification
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
Behavior Therapy
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Operant Conditioning
Reinforcement in operant conditioning can be positive or negative, both of which serve to increase the likelihood of a behavior. Positive...
Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
