Comprehensive Toileting Program

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Encopresis; ASD
• Interventions: Drug: Glycerin Suppository; Behavioral: Behavioral strategies

• Registration Number: NCT07226739
• Lead Sponsor: Emory University

Brief Summary

The current study aims to monitor fecal continence after autistic youth complete enuresis treatment and for individuals who continue to experience encopresis after acquiring urine continence, evaluate a caregiver-mediated version of a Multidisciplinary Intervention for Encopresis (CM-MIE) delivered via telehealth to determine efficacy in a randomized clinical trial.

Detailed Description

Participants will complete toilet training for enuresis (if needed) and then monitored to determine if encopresis persists. For individuals with resolved enuresis but persisting encopresis, they will be randomized to receive either a treatment for encopresis (delivered via telehealth) or a parent education program. The encopresis intervention involves behavioral components and administration of an over-the-counter suppository as needed. All participants will also meet with a pediatric gastroenterologist to ensure safety of study procedures and to resolve constipation as needed. Outcomes will include caregiver-completed questionnaires, data on bowel movements collected by the caregiver, and an interview between the participant's caregiver and a blinded investigator focused on encopresis, other presenting concerns, and any potential adverse events.

Informed consent will be collected via signature from one legal guardian. The investigators will collect assent from participants when appropriate given age and developmental level.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-11
• Study First Submitted: 2025-11-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-11-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-11-07
• Study First Posted: 2025-11-10
• Last Update Posted: 2025-11-10
• Study Start: 2026-01-01
• Primary Completion: 2031-01
• Study Completion: 2031-01-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 150

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

• Unresolved medical condition that would impede toilet training (e.g., interference with sphincter control, short gut syndrome, urinary tract or gastrointestinal infection, unexplained diarrhea, recent intestinal surgery, inflammatory bowel disease)
• Failed intensive toileting treatment in the past 2 yrs with protocols akin to study
• Current serious behavioral or psychiatric disorder that requires another treatment
• Current or planned other intervention (behavioral or medical) for incontinence

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Caregiver-mediated version of multidisciplinary intervention for encopresis (CM-MIE) Arm	Glycerin Suppository	* A Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will meet virtually with caregivers for daily appointments for two weeks (goal of 10 appointments; maximum of 2-hours per appointment). * First appointment, the BCBA will provide support on using telehealth and psychoeducation about encopresis, reinforcement, and suppository use. * Subsequent appointments involve a scheduled sit on the toilet to encourage an independent bowel movement. If a bowel movement occurs, the caregiver is coached to provide the child with a highly preferred item, praise, and allow them to leave the bathroom. If a bowel movement does not occur, the therapist coaches the parent through administration of a glycerin suppository intended to quickly elicit a bowel movement, followed by another scheduled sit on the toilet. * After consistent success with continent BMs following suppository administration, the suppository dose will be reduced to gradually fade out its use.
Caregiver-mediated version of multidisciplinary intervention for encopresis (CM-MIE) Arm	Behavioral strategies	* A Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will meet virtually with caregivers for daily appointments for two weeks (goal of 10 appointments; maximum of 2-hours per appointment). * First appointment, the BCBA will provide support on using telehealth and psychoeducation about encopresis, reinforcement, and suppository use. * Subsequent appointments involve a scheduled sit on the toilet to encourage an independent bowel movement. If a bowel movement occurs, the caregiver is coached to provide the child with a highly preferred item, praise, and allow them to leave the bathroom. If a bowel movement does not occur, the therapist coaches the parent through administration of a glycerin suppository intended to quickly elicit a bowel movement, followed by another scheduled sit on the toilet. * After consistent success with continent BMs following suppository administration, the suppository dose will be reduced to gradually fade out its use.
Parent Education (PE) Arm	Behavioral strategies	* PE includes an initial appointment with a BCBA who will provide recommendations on promoting bowel movement continence. * First appointment will involve a didactic review of the basics of reinforcement, collecting data to identify when BMs are most likely, and scheduled sits around this time. Caregivers will be instructed to collect data on BMs after this appointment. * The BCBA will then hold daily follow-up appointments (10 appointments total over 2 weeks). At these appointments, the BCBA will review this data and make additional recommendations (e.g., changing the timing of scheduled sits based on when BMs are most likely to occur, altering the reinforcer used for continent voids) to promote success.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Clinical Global Impression Improvement (CGI-I) scale score	5 weeks post-baseline (Endpoint)	The CGI-I is a clinician-rated 7-point scale measuring overall change from baseline. Scores range from 1 (Very Much Improved) to 4 (Unchanged) to 7 (Very Much Worse), rated by the treatment-blind independent evaluator (IE) with all available information. CGI-I ratings of Much Improved (score of 2) or Very Much Improved (score of 1) will define positive response; all other ratings are defined as nonresponders. Number of positive responses for the Clinical Global Impression scale will be compared between the CM-MIE and the PE group.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Caregiver Strain Questionnaire-short form (CGSQ-SF) score	5 weeks post-baseline (Endpoint)	Caregiver Strain Questionnaire-short form (CGSQ-SF) change score at endpoint will be compared between the CM-MIE and the PE group.; The Caregiver Strain Questionnaire-short form is a 7-item measure of self-reported strain experienced by caregivers and families, with responses on a 5-point Likert scale. Total possible score range is 7-35, with higher scores indicating higher strain (worse outcome).
Fecal continence based on caregiver-collected data	5 weeks post-baseline (Endpoint)	Treatment response measured as fecal continence based on caregiver-collected data in a bowel-activity diary that documents all continent and incontinent bowel movements. Number of positive responses will be compared in CM-MIE vs. PE groups.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Marcus Autism Center; 🇺🇸 Atlanta, Georgia, United States