View clinical trials related to Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Filter by:Background. Increasing evidence indicates that brain inflammation is important in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders, including at least a significant proportion of subjects with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Natural flavonoids, such as luteolin and quercetin, exhibit potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators from human mast cells, and reduce maternal interleukin 6-induced autism-like behavioral deficits related to social interactions in mice. In a case series of 37 children with ASD who took a dietary supplement containing luteolin and quercetin for 4 months reported gains in eye contact, attention and social interaction according to parental reports. Aim. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness and tolerability in white children with ASD of a dietary supplement containing 2 flavonoids, luteolin and quercetin, and the quercetin glycoside rutin. Methods. Fifty children (42 boys and 8 girls) divided into 2 equal age groups (4-6 years old, and 7-10 years) with ASD were enrolled in a 26-week, prospective, open-label trial at the 2nd University Department of Psychiatry at "Attikon" General Hospital, Athens, Greece, the Ethics Committee of which approved the study. The parents of all subjects were informed of the study's aims, including risks versus benefits of participating and not participating as well as the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and they written consent for participation in the study. Participants had already been diagnosed with ASD based on clinical assessments, and this diagnosis was corroborated at the 'Attikon' clinic by meeting the cutoff scores on both the DSM-IV-TR, symptom list and the ADOS algorithm. All children were medication naive. Apart from the diagnostic evaluation, the assessment also included a thorough medical evaluation comprising a physical examination and health history (including a review of allergic and gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as any food allergies or food intolerance). All concurrent interventions were thoroughly noted (type and hours), and the same was done at all visits. After meeting screening criteria, subjects were evaluated at the baseline visit, mid-trial visit at 18 weeks, and final visit at 26 weeks. Children were administered a dietary formulation containing 2 flavonoids, luteolin (100 mg/capsule) and quercetin (70 mg/capsule), and the quercetin glycoside rutin (30 mg/capsule). The dose used was 1 softgel capsule per 10 kg (22 lb) weight per day with food for 26 weeks. The primary outcomes were the age-equivalent scores in the 3 domains of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS), communication, daily living skills, and socialization. The VABS was chosen because the impact of an agent on adaptive functioning in real life is even more important for obtaining a better quality of life than just alleviation of some symptoms. The raw scores from the interview can be also expressed as an age-equivalent score and a standard score compared with those of the subject's peers. There are also supplementary special norms for individuals with autism. Although standard scores could be more useful in subject characterization, their use as an outcome measure has been proven to be less sensitive due to floor effects and reduced variability, especially in short time periods, and thus these scores underestimate change. Conversely, scores of special norms tend to overestimate change, as a small increase in a raw score can produce a big improvement in special norm percentile rank. Thus, raw scores and age-equivalent scores seem to be the most appropriate for use as outcome measures, with the latter being more easily interpreted as change over time. Secondary outcomes included the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), and the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement score (CGI-I). To explore other possible effects of the formulation not captured from the aforementioned instruments, we chose to record any other benefits observed and reported by the parents during its use. For this, the primary clinician (K.F.) conducted telephone or in-person interviews of the parents, independently of the assessing clinician (A.T.), to discuss the possible gains of the child. CGI-I was also independently coded by the primary clinician with personal assessments as well as with information gathered by parents and, in the majority of cases, by the subjects' trainers. Compliance was monitored by softgel capsule count and the parents' assurance that the capsules had actually been taken at each visit; in case of a capsule count <85% of the prescribed dosage at midterm and at the end of the study, the subject was excluded from the final analysis. Adverse events were systematically recorded on an adverse event form by using scales indicating severity, relationship to the study procedures, action taken, and any therapy required.
The objective of this study is to validate a social skills training program manual for adolescents (ages 13-17) with Asperger's Syndrome or high functioning autism. Approximately 150 adolescents with autism spectrum disorders will participate in this study, in groups consisting of 6 adolescents and 6 peer volunteers. Participants will participate in both group therapy and peer generalization sessions (in the form of a photography class) once a week over the course of twelve weeks. Participants and their parents will complete paper and pencil, online, or phone measures and video-recordings to assess the participant's social skills prior to the intervention, at completion of the intervention and three months later.
Based on the need to characterize and improve early intervention services for minority and under-resourced children with ASD, this study translates a manualized and proven training model to examine its impact on the use of evidence-based practices (EBP) by early intervention providers, and to examine its relationship to child and family outcomes. By highlighting the impact of EBP-focused training on participating providers, children, and families, findings of the proposed study have the potential to effect significant change in the organization and delivery of early intervention services for minority and under-resourced children with ASD.
The proposed study will result in a software application compatible with the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch (hereafter termed "iOS devices") which addresses several aspects of prosodic deficits common in speakers with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and other communication disorders, using a developmentally appropriate, intuitive interface that requires little technical skill and which can be managed by educators and parents. The program will contain elements that aid in tracking and maintaining individual student progress records, and will be designed for use in the classroom, at home, and in other environments. This study's intended focus is on the feasibility and usability of the software application.
This is a 12-week open label trial to evaluate whether omega-3 fatty acids is effective in reducing the severity of autism and its comorbidities.
The proposed study is an internet-based, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial which will assess changes in hyperactivity in children ages five through eight with an autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and elevated levels of hyperactivity. In order to answer this question, this study will assess changes in hyperactivity as measured by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) in children with ASD and elevated baseline levels of hyperactivity who are randomly assigned to use 1.3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids daily compared to placebo. The overwhelming majority of study procedures, including recruitment, informed consent, assessment of inclusion and exclusion criteria, and collection of baseline and outcome measures will take place over the internet.
The purpose of this study aims to investigate the utility of Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), a behaviorally derived intervention, to improve the quality and frequency of communication and social engagement of toddlers with siblings who have an autism spectrum disorder (SIBS - ASD) and who demonstrate developmental delays and impairments in social interaction between 12 and 15 months of age.
The purpose of this study is to determine how osteopathic manual medicine (OMM) will affect core autism features including social and communication deficits. The investigators believe that OMM approaches can positively influence some features associated with Autism/Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The purpose of this research study is to help us learn if children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have gastrointestinal (stomach and intestine) problems more frequently than children without ASD do. The investigators hope to learn if children with ASD and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders have certain Problem Behaviors (PB), such as self-injury and aggression, more than children with ASD but no GI disorders do. The investigators want to learn if the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Questionnaire (GIQ) can help us tell which children with ASD also have gastrointestinal disorders. Hypothesis 1: Children with ASD exhibit high rates of symptomatic GI dysfunction that are not identified by current diagnostic evaluation. Hypothesis 2: Painful or discomfort-causing gastrointestinal dysfunctions contribute to an elevated incidence or severity of PB in an identifiable subpopulation of PB-expressing children. The investigators anticipate that the proposed study will raise the standard of medical care for children with ASD by improving current methods of identifying GI dysfunction and determining whether there is a significant relationship between GI dysfunction and PB in this population.
This study will examine the potential efficacy and safety of riluzole for core and associated symptom domains of autism and will explore biological markers of safety and treatment response.