View clinical trials related to Autism.
Filter by:This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of glutathione alone or glutathione, vitamin C and NAC treatment in children with autism who also have severe behavior problems. The investigators hypothesis is that children with autism will show improvement in both learning capabilities and behavior with either glutathione, or glutathione, vitamin C and NAC therapy.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether CM-AT is safe and effective in treating the core symptoms of autism.
This study is a comparative, double blind, placebo controlled trial of 6-months duration designed to evaluate 1) the effects of fluoxetine in 5 to 12 years old autistic children, 2) the effects of fluoxetine on serotoninergic parameters, 3) cerebral metabolic changes (rCBF measurements with PET) induced by the treatment.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of memantine extended release, as well as its extent of absorption in pediatric patients with autism.
Children with autism are often treated with psychiatric drugs. These medications have been shown to improve their language and social function, and are important in improving their quality of life. In many cases it is difficult to determine the best drug dose, and a favorable response occurs in only 30%-70% of individuals, with many children suffering significant adverse drug reactions. Pharmacogenetics is the study of the role of different genes on drug behavior. The cytochrome P450 is the most important enzyme, involved in the metabolism of a vast number of drugs, including psychiatric medications. The multiple variations in this gene can result in the different response observed in different patients, even when treated with similar doses of the drug. Hypothesis(es): Mapping the different types of cytochrome P450 gene, in children with autistic disorders will improve the rate of success of medical treatment, and prevent adverse drug reactions. Potential Impact: If successful, our study can help thousands of children and their families by developing a system of "tailored medicine" that is based on the specific activity of the various enzymes present in that particular patient. Better medical treatment will facilitate better daily interactions with the children and enhance their quality of life. Furthermore, recognizing children that are resistant to medication will prevent unnecessary use of drugs. It should be noted this is the first study focusing on children receiving psychiatric medications using pharmacogenetics. Found to be effective, this method can also be applied to other groups of medications and to other patients.
The study will evaluate the effectiveness of atomoxetine (Strattera) with and without Parent Management Training (PMT) in children with Autism, Asperger's Disorder, or Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS) who have symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This is a double-blind placebo, parallel study where the atomoxetine will have a dose titration over a 6 week period. All children will be seen weekly during this titration period, with additional visits at Week 8 and Week 10. Families assigned to the PMT arm will have an additional weekly meeting with a clinician for a total of 9 PMT visits. PMT involves teaching parents to implement behavioral interventions with their children. Subjects who are clinical responders (ADHD Responders and Compliance Responders) from the 10 week study period will be followed every 4 weeks in a 24-week extension study. Subjects who are clinical nonresponders will continue in PMT if they received PMT during the double-blind phase, and they will receive an open trial of atomoxetine if they were on placebo during the double-blind phase. All subjects (responders and nonresponders) will be invited to participate in follow-up assessments every 4 weeks for 24 weeks after the completion of the double-blind phase.
This is a randomized controlled study to determine whether the BCRI (Behavior－Cognition－Relationship Intervention) model is effective for the autistic children. BCRI model is a eclectic method using behavior modification, structure teaching, relationship-focus approaches according to the symptom severity and main problems at any stage of training for the autistic children. The BCRI Model emphasis the importance that parents understand the principle of training and education and can use them skillfully, appropriately and persistently.
Many children with autism have a reduced level of glutathione and a reduced ability to excrete mercury, resulting in elevated levels in their bodies as demonstrated by blood, hair, provoked urine, and baby tooth testing. Our earlier studies have demonstrated that DMSA, an FDA-approved medication for treating lead poisoning in children, is effective in increasing excretion of mercury and other toxic metals. Based on many clinical reports, we hypothesize that a 3-month treatment with glutathione and DMSA will result in a reduction of autistic symptoms in some children with autism.
Omega-3 fatty acids are among the most commonly used CAM (Complementary Alternative Medical) therapies, and have been reported to be currently used by 28.7% of children with autism. Two published case series noted that families reported large improvements in the core feature of autism when children were given omega-3 fatty acids. Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids have been noted in children with autism, which suggests normalizing the omega-3 fatty acid levels could produce improvements in the symptoms seen in many children with autism. This study is a 12-week randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial for 24 male and female children aged 3 to 8 years with autism. Patients who are currently using omega-3 would need to discontinue omega-3 fatty acids for 8 weeks before they are able to participate in the study. All study participants who meet all inclusion and no exclusion criteria at the initial screening visit and sign the consent form will then complete baseline assessments of the outcome measures (validated instruments of hyperactivity, communication, social interaction, and behavior) and be randomly assigned to 12 weeks of omega-3 fatty acids at a dose of 1 gm per day or an identical placebo. The child's behavior will be measured and evaluated at the MIND Institute at the beginning of the study and at study closing. All study families will come in for a follow-up visit at weeks 4 and 8 to assess medication compliance and side effects to study medication. After 12 weeks of treatment, all outcome measures including laboratory tests and side effect profiles will be repeated. All patients who complete the study will receive a 12-week supply of omega-3. This would also provide patients who were on placebo with active medication. No follow-up visits are needed once the patient finishes the double-blind portion of the study.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the process of development of autistic children, in a direct and indirect intervention context from mother´s response in Autism Behavior Checklist.