Treatment of elopement in individuals with developmental disabilities: a systematic review.
Function-based plans—especially FCT—remain the gold standard for stopping elopement across settings and ages.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Russell and colleagues hunted for every study that tried to stop elopement in people with developmental disabilities.
They found ten small reports with a total of 53 participants.
Each study was pulled apart to see which tricks actually kept kids and adults from running off.
What they found
Eight of the ten studies showed clear drops in elopement.
Plans that matched the reason for running—called function-based—worked best.
Functional communication training, or FCT, topped the list.
How this fits with other research
Later single-case studies echo the same tune. Boyle et al. (2020) and Vascelli et al. (2021) show FCT still wins even when you skip extinction.
Bigger trials now back the old advice. Scheithauer et al. (2025) ran the first randomized test and found caregiver coaching that targets the function of elopement cuts wandering by half.
Nevill et al. (2025) added inpatient data: 13 of 14 kids with autism dropped elopement at least 80% using the same function-first style.
Pizzighello et al. (2019) surveyed families and remind us that two-thirds of kids with ASD still elope, so the 2009 recipe is needed more than ever.
Why it matters
If a client bolts, start with a quick functional assessment.
Teach a simple communication response that gives the same payoff as running—then let parents practice.
You now have ten-plus years of evidence, including new RCT data, saying this works in homes, clinics, and hospitals alike.
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02At a glance
03Original 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.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2009 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2008.11.003