Investigating Neuroimaging Endophenotypes for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title:

Investigating Neuroimaging Endophenotypes for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02720588
• Other study ID #: 201505142RINC
• Status: Completed
• Start date: January 2016
• Est. completion date: December 31, 2016

Study information

• Verified date: September 2021
• Source: National Taiwan University Hospital
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

Specific Aims: This study aims to examine the hypothesis that individuals with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their unaffected siblings shared alterations in gray and white matter volume and their associated intrinsic functional connectivity, to build upon limited literature about neuroimaging endophenotypes of ASD. The investigators also aim to test whether these shared differences are associated with behavioral autistic traits.

Description:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder, yet the search for genes with a definitive role in its etiology has remained elusive. Deconstructing the disorder with endophenotypic approach should boost the statistical power of genetic studies and clarify the pathophysiology of autism. Neuroimaging data provides evidence for atypical trajectories of brain growth in ASD, which result in differences in neuroanatomy and connectivity in the widespread neural systems. As genetic factors are responsible for a significant amount of variation in neuroanatomy and intrinsic functional connectivity, shared alterations in brain morphology and associated functional connectivity between individuals with ASD and their unaffected siblings is likely a useful endophenotype. Nonetheless, such multi-modal approach has never been tested in study on endophenotypic markers for ASD. The study aims to fill in the gap.

The investigators plan to recruit 90 participants (30 adults with ASD, 30 unaffected siblings, and 30 healthy controls), without current and past history of any systemic physical illness, neither any major psychiatric disorder other than ASD. All the participants will receive psychiatric interviews (the Chinese version of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised, ADI-R; the Chinese Version of the Kiddie Epidemiologic version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, K-SADS-E). They will receive the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-3rd edition(WAIS-III) first to ensure their full-scale IQ greater than 70. The MRI assessments (T1 imaging, single-echo echo planar imaging(EPI) resting-state fMRI) will be subsequently arranged within 2 weeks after psychiatric/neuropsychological assessments.

The investigators anticipate that this study (1) will be the first report in Taiwan to report neuroimaging endophenotypes for ASD; (2) will be the first report in the world on the shared structural and functional connective differences by ASD and their unaffected siblings; (3) will provide further evidence about the mechanism underpinning the broad autism phenotype.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 90
• Est. completion date: December 31, 2016
• Est. primary completion date: December 31, 2016
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 35 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects who have a clinical diagnosis of autistic disorder or Asperger disorder defined by the DSM-IV criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Systemic medical illness

2. Current symptoms or lifetime history of DSM-5 diagnosis of mood disorder, any psychotic disorder, substance use disorder, learning disorder, anxiety disorder, claustrophobia, obsessive compulsive disorder, or mental retardation.

3. With neurodegenerative disorder, epilepsy, involuntary movement disorder, congenital metabolic disorder, brain tumor, history of severe head trauma, and history of craniotomy;

4. Full-scale IQ < 70.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Autistic Disorder
• Child Development Disorders, Pervasive

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Taiwan	National Taiwan Univeristy Hospital	Taipei

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
National Taiwan University Hospital

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Taiwan, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Psychiatric Interview	Subjects will be interviewed by Chinese Version of the Kiddie Epidemiologic version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS-E)	1 hour