TeleABA for Hospitalized Adolescents and Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT07701915 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 2 other identifiers: TeleABA-WCG-202534455R44MH134706-03
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

This study is evaluating whether a telehealth-based applied behavior analysis (ABA) program can improve the care of adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are hospitalized because of severe challenging behaviors, such as aggression, self-injury, property destruction, or elopement. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either standard hospital care alone or standard hospital care plus a Telehealth Applied Behavior Analysis for Hospitalized Adolescents and Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder (TeleABA) program. The TeleABA program includes assessment by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), individualized behavior support recommendations, coaching for hospital staff, caregiver training, discharge planning, and four weekly telehealth sessions with caregivers after the participant leaves the hospital. Researchers will compare the two groups to determine whether the TeleABA program improves behavioral outcomes, caregiver confidence and stress, hospital experiences, and the transition from the hospital to home. The findings may help identify more effective ways to support individuals with autism and their families during and after behavioral health hospitalizations.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Keywords

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA); Telehealth; Caregiver Training; Challenging Behavior; Crisis Prevention; Behavioral Crisis; Hospitalization

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability (ABC-I) Score

  The Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability Subscale is a caregiver-reported measure of irritability, agitation, aggression, tantrums, and self-injurious behavior. Scores range from 0 to 45, with higher scores indicating greater irritability and more severe behavioral symptoms. The primary outcome is the change from baseline in ABC-I score, comparing participants receiving Hospital TeleABA with those receiving standard care.

  Assessed at baseline (hospital admission), at hospital discharge, and at 2 and 6 weeks post-discharge, assessed up to 365 days.

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I)

  Assessed at hospital discharge and 2 weeks post-discharge, assessed up to 365 days.

• Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S)

  Assessed at baseline (hospital admission), hospital discharge, and 2 weeks post-discharge, assessed up to 365 days.

• Hospital Length of Stay, days

  Day of hospital admission to day of hospital discharge, assessed up to 365 days.

• Use of Restrictive Interventions

  Day of hospital admission to day of hospital discharge, assessed up to 365 days.

• Caregiver Transition Survey

  Assessed at baseline (hospital admission), hospital discharge, 2 weeks post-discharge, and 6 weeks post-discharge. Assessed up to 365 days.

Study Arms (2)

Standard Hospital Care

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive standard inpatient behavioral health care provided by the hospital, including psychiatric evaluation, medication management, nursing care, therapeutic programming, and discharge planning. Participants in this arm will not receive the TeleABA intervention.

Behavioral: Standard Hospital Care

Standard Hospital Care + Telehealth Applied Behavior Analysis (TeleABA)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive standard inpatient behavioral health care plus the TeleABA intervention. The TeleABA intervention includes behavioral assessment, individualized behavior support recommendations, coaching for hospital staff, caregiver training, discharge planning, and four weekly telehealth caregiver coaching sessions following hospital discharge.

Behavioral: Telehealth Applied Behavior Analysis (TeleABA)

Interventions

Standard Hospital Care BEHAVIORAL

Standard inpatient behavioral health care provided by the hospital, including psychiatric evaluation, medication management, nursing care, therapeutic programming, and discharge planning in accordance with routine clinical practice.

Standard Hospital Care

Telehealth Applied Behavior Analysis (TeleABA) BEHAVIORAL

The TeleABA intervention is a telehealth-delivered applied behavior analysis (ABA) program designed to support adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder during hospitalization and the transition to home. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) conducts caregiver interviews, behavioral assessment, functional assessment when indicated, and develops individualized behavior support recommendations. The intervention includes consultation and coaching for hospital staff, caregiver training, discharge planning, and four weekly telehealth caregiver coaching sessions following hospital discharge to support implementation of behavior support strategies and continuity of care.

Standard Hospital Care + Telehealth Applied Behavior Analysis (TeleABA)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 12 years or older.
• Established or documented diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the electronic medical record or confirmed by the attending provider using DSM-5 criteria.
• Admitted to a participating Hackensack Meridian Health hospital due to behavioral concerns (e.g., aggression, self-injury, elopement, or property destruction) that contribute to or prolong hospitalization.
• Behavioral support identified by the attending provider as a primary component of the current admission.
• Caregiver or legally authorized representative (LAR) able to provide informed consent.
• Patient assent obtained when applicable.
• Voluntary, court-mandated, and ward-of-the-state admissions are eligible.

You may not qualify if:

• Admission for an acute medical condition in which behavioral concerns are not a primary driver of hospitalization.
• Medical instability that precludes participation in telehealth sessions.
• Absence of a caregiver or legally authorized representative able to provide informed consent.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Caring Technologies, Inc.: lead
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): collaborator
• Hackensack Meridian Health: collaborator
• Center for Social Dynamics: collaborator
• Rutgers University: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center

Neptune City, New Jersey, 07753, United States

Location

Children's Specialized Hospital-Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH-RUCARES)

Somerset, New Jersey, 08873, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Ron Oberleitner

  Caring Technologies, Inc.

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Joy Pollard, Ph.D.

  Center for Social Dynamics

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: INDUSTRY
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 29, 2026
• First Posted: July 14, 2026
• Study Start: August 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2027
• Last Updated: July 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (2)