View clinical trials related to Autism.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of Primary Care Stepping Stones Triple P (PC-SS Triple P), an empirically supported parent mediated intervention, to improve the behavioral functioning of children newly diagnosed with Autism (aged 2-12 years), increase parental resilience and decrease parental stress.
This is an open, pilot study of neural mechanisms of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In addition to the core symptoms, approximately forty percent of children with ASD exhibit clinically significant levels of anxiety. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a promising treatment for anxiety in children with high-functioning ASD, but the neural mechanisms of this treatment have not been studied. CBT teaches emotion regulation skills such as cognitive reappraisal, followed by behavioral exposure to anxiety-provoking situations. The investigators propose to investigate the neural mechanisms of CBT for anxiety by evaluating fMRI indices of socioemotional functioning before and after treatment in children, ages 8 to 14, with high-functioning ASD. Dysfunction of the amygdala and its connectivity with prefrontal cortex has been implicated in co-occurring ASD and anxiety. In the investigators research, compared to typically developing controls, children with ASD have shown lower activation in several regions of prefrontal cortex and a lack of down-regulation in the amygdala during a task of emotion regulation. Based on these observations, the investigators propose that a positive response to CBT for anxiety in children with ASD will be associated with increased activation of several regions in the prefrontal cortex as well as increased functional connectivity between prefrontal regions the amygdala during the task of emotion regulation. The primary aim of this pilot study is to examine the effects of CBT on the neural basis of anxiety in ASD by collecting fMRI data during emotion regulation, face perception, and rest before and after treatment. The investigators hypothesize that CBT will increase prefrontal activity, decrease amygdala reactivity, and enhance amygdala-prefrontal functional connectivity during emotion regulation. The investigators also hypothesize that CBT will decrease amygdala reactivity during perception of emotional faces. Additional analyses will be conducted to explore change in resting-state functional connectivity before and after CBT for anxiety in children with ASD.
Through funding from the U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Teaching Research Institute at Western Oregon University (WOU) will be conducting research on the effect of a parent-delivered massage program on measures of autism and general development in children ages 6 to 11 with autism. Families will participate in an initial training, and receive 24 sessions of ongoing support and training from a trained therapist over the first nine months.
A child and their parent were asked to participate in a research project that sought to study whether sleeping in a very clean environment for 14 days improved the elimination of chemicals and metals from the child's body. The child had an approximately two hour evaluation to confirm his or her diagnosis of Autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Not Otherwise Specified. When one of these diagnoses was confirmed the child was scheduled to spend 14 nights sleeping in a very clean environment in a specially created room at The Children's Institute. Several hours prior to the first night the child slept in the clean room the child's mother, father, or guardian filled out behavioral rating scales about the child with the assistance of the study's research coordinator. The child also had approximately two tablespoons of blood drawn from an arm and a few inch sample of hair was taken from the back of the child's head. The child and a parent or guardian arrived at The Children's Institute about one half hour prior to the child's normal time of settling for bed for 14 consecutive nights. The child and a parent or guardian slept in the clean room, wearing the provided very clean clothes and sleeping on special mattresses and sheets each night for 14 consecutive nights. The child and parent were observed by a nurse through a window during the time in the clean room. The child and parent participated in regular daytime activities during these 14 days of the study. On the morning after the last night the child and a parent or guardian slept in the clean room a parent or guardian filled out behavioral rating scales with the help of the research coordinator. Approximately two tablespoons of blood were drawn from an arm and a few inch sample of hair was obtained from the back of the child's head, at The Children's Institute or at home.
Allogeneic (not from the subject) human umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells administered intravenously (IV) in a series of 4 infusions every 3 months over the course of one year is safe and will induce a therapeutic effect in autism patients.
The research project is part of the evaluation of the therapeutic approaches in mental health. Its framework infant and juvenile units that have developed "integrative devices," taking into account recent advances in knowledge and providing care, education and pedagogical approach. The evolution of autistic children receiving these integrative devices is studied to determine the validity of the devices mentioned. The methodology is based on case studies in a natural situation. Clinicians are committed to network among themselves and with researchers in a multicenter study.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a collection of complex neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by qualitative impairments in socialization, communication, and circumscribed interests, including stereotypical behavior patterns and behavioral rigidity to changes in routines (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). ASD is the fastest growing pervasive developmental disorder of childhood, currently estimated to affect 1 in 88 school age children (Baio, 2012). ASD typically manifests in infancy and persist throughout the lifespan. There is no known cause or cure for ASD, yet structured behavioral interventions and medications can enhance developmental outcomes. ASD has a profound impact on families and often result in enormous emotional and financial costs. Recent estimates suggest that societal costs in the US to care for all individuals diagnosed each year over their lifetime approaches $35 billion (Ganz, 2007). Janssen Research & Development is building a comprehensive digital platform (MENTIS) to optimize and enhance development of novel medicines and track outcomes in individuals with ASD. The MENTIS platform contains several core components, including: (1) An electronic personal healthcare record, designed specifically for individuals with ASD and their caregivers (parents, teachers, healthcare providers); (2) Integrated physiological and physical activity biosensors designed to objectively assess outcomes important in ASD, and; (3) A de-identified research data warehouse with analytic tools to better measure outcomes, assist with sub-population identification, and identify algorithms for diagnosis and treatment response detection. The MENTIS platform is currently being designed, developed, and prepared for testing. During this process it is highly desirable to conduct feasibility and usability research with a sample of the target population to identify important system components and features, optimize design, and reduce redundancy in software development and research time. The rapid pilot study described herein is proposed to gather incipient feedback on select MENTIS system components and features from stakeholders who support individuals with ASD in a clinical setting. This pilot research will help evaluate both how well current MENTIS system features work in an applied setting and inform future directions for MENTIS platform development.
The purpose of this study is to determine the tolerability of dietary supplements and if these supplements can promote a healthy bacterial environment in the intestines of children with autism spectrum disorders and gastrointestinal complaints.
The goal of this project is to collect information that will support a later clinical trial on the effectiveness of a specially adapted dental environment for children who have difficulty tolerating oral care in the dental clinic. We hypothesize that adapting the sensory environment in the dental office by modifying the sounds, sights, smells and tactile experiences will result in decreased anxiety, increased cooperation, and fewer behavior problems for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and to a lesser extent for typically developing children especially those who have dental anxieties. This has the potential contribute to increased child comfort as well as safer, more efficient, and less costly treatment for a large population, as potentially more than one-fourth of all children may benefit from a sensory adapted dental environment.
70 children and adults with autism spectrum disorders will be enrolled in a 1-year, single-blind treatment study. Assessments will be conducted at the beginning and end of the study, including measurements of nutritional, metabolic, and digestive status and assessments of autism severity and overall functioning. Half of the participants will be randomized into a treatment study, and half will be randomized to no changes in their current treatments. Treatments will be added in a sequential manner over 12 months, including vitamin/minerals, essential fatty acids, carnitine, digestive enzymes, and healthy, gluten-free, casein-free diets. A dedicated team of nutritionists, nurses, and physicians will support and monitor the participants throughout the study. A group of 50 neurotypical children and adults, of similar age and gender, will be included for comparison.