title: Treatment of elopement in individuals with developmental disabilities: a systematic review.
abstract: We reviewed studies involving the treatment of elopement in individuals with developmental disabilities. Systematic searches of three electronic databases, journals, and reference lists identified 10 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. These studies were evaluated in terms of: (a) participants, (b) procedures used to assess elopement, (c) intervention procedures, (d) results of the intervention, and (e) certainty of evidence. Across the 10 studies, intervention was provided to a total of 53 participants aged 3-47 years. Assessment procedures included anecdotal staff reports, participant interviews, direct observation, and modified analog functional analysis. Intervention approaches included differential reinforcement, extinction, functional communication training, response blocking, non-contingent reinforcement, shaping, and scheduled exercise. Positive outcomes were reported in 80% of the reviewed studies. The evidence base suggests that function-based assessment (e.g. functional analysis procedures) and function-based treatments (e.g. functional communication training) may be most effective in the treatment of elopement in this population. Directions for future research are offered.
authors.affiliation: The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA. russlang@mail.utexas.edu
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rispoli
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Machalicek
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Soyeon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: Austin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mulloy
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fragale
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sigafoos
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lancioni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000628:therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055816:Wandering Behavior