Previous studies have reported that the use of applied behaviour analysis by a specialist team in addition to standard treatment for adults with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour was both clinically effective and cost-effective after 6 months.

This study reported a 2-year follow-up of the same trial cohort. The study found that  participants who were receiving the specialist intervention had significantly lower total and sub-domain scores on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist than those receiving support without the specialist element.

The team adjusted the for baseline covariates and found no significant difference in costs between the trial arms suggesting continued clinical and cost effectiveness over a two year period.

Applied behaviour analysis and standard treatment in intellectual disability: 2-year outcomes, Hassiotis A et al., in British Journal of Psychiatry 198: 490-491.