Function-Based Elopement Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study is testing a new behavioral treatment called Function-Based Elopement Treatment (FBET) for children aged 4 to 12 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who tend to wander or leave supervision without permission (elopement). Researchers want to see if FBET can reduce elopement and if it can be easily used in community-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) clinics. You could be eligible if your child has an ASD diagnosis, is between 4 and 12 years old, and has been eloping regularly for at least three months. The study will compare FBET to the usual ABA services (Treatment as Usual) that families already receive. Success will be measured by changes in elopement scores and how practical FBET is to use. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 50 participants. It will first test FBET in a single-arm open-label trial, then compare it to Treatment as Usual across multiple clinics.
What's involved
Participants will have their elopement behaviors and feasibility scores measured at the start, at 8-10 weeks, at 20 weeks, and again at 32 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed up for 32 weeks after the start of the study.

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NCT07194083

Effectiveness- Implementation Trial of the Function-Based Elopement Treatment

Recruiting
NAAges 4–12Interventional
Emory University
~50 participants
Updated 2026-06-18 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Function-Based Elopement TreatmentTreatment as Usual

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Elopement Questionnaire scores
Measured over Baseline, Mid point (8-10 weeks), End point (20 weeks), follow up (32 weeks)
+1 more outcome measured
Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT07194083

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Marcus Autism Center

    Atlanta, Georgiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Mindy Scheithauer · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Emory University

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Boys and girls ages \> 4 to \< 12 years
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis by history
Presence of elopement as an important caregiver concern - elopement occurring regularly for at least 3 months.
At least one primary caregiver can speak and understand English.
  • Change in Elopement Questionnaire scoresBaseline, Mid point (8-10 weeks), End point (20 weeks), follow up (32 weeks)

    The Elopement Questionnaire lists situations commonly reported as problematic by caregivers of children with ASD who elope. Aligned with the HSQ, caregivers indicate whether each situation is an issue, and if so, rate the severity from 1 (mild) to 9 (severe). The Elopement Questionnaire creates a total score by summing severity across items.

  • Feasibility Score CardBaseline, Mid point (8-10 weeks), End point (20 weeks), follow up (32 weeks)

    This score card includes measures of attendance (BCBAs will keep an attendance log to calculate completed sessions over the expected; score card success = 75% attendance), homework completion (BCBA will score completion ranging from 0 = no to 4 = all homework completed; Success is defined as \> 75% of sessions with a score ≥ 3), and therapist integrity (completion of a checklist at a subset of FBET appointments; success defined as \>80% accurate implementation) This data will be collected only for the FBET arm