Active clinical trials for "Autism Spectrum Disorder"

Sleep disturbance is very common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD),and closely associated with their core symptom, social deficit.This trial investigates the effects of Cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in children with autism spectrum disorder with sleep problems through synchronized eye-tracking and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). This is a 1:1 parallel single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Feeding problems are common in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).This study was planned to investigate the effect of occupational theraphy on sensory feeding problems in ASD.

This study evaluates the effects of a 12-week life-skills resilience curriculum for young adults with autism. The project utilizes a wait-list crossover design and compares the intervention to standard care.

This study evaluates the KONTAKT social skills group training in Australian children on the autism spectrum compared to an active control group which is a group Art class

This study aims to develop a culturally-sensitive parent-training intervention to enhance socioemotional functioning of young children (aged 3-6) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Mainland China. The investigators will conduct randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of this program in a pilot study and then a large-scale community-based study in Shenzhen, China, to examine the generalizability of the treatment outcomes of this intervention for Chinese children with ASD.

The present study will test the effectiveness of a behavioral intervention program that targets sleep problems in 1.5-5-year-old children with ASD. Sleep patterns will be measured using questionnaires and sleep diaries that will be completed by the parents as well as by Fitbit sensors that will be placed on the child's wrist or back of the arm. The study will also explore whether specific child (e.g., severity of cognitive abilities) or parent characteristics (e.g., parent stress levels) impact the effectiveness of the intervention. In addition, we will examine whether changes in sleep disturbances are associated with changes in the family's quality of life.

This study is designed to pilot an intervention technique to reduce the self-stimulating behaviors seen in individuals with autism spectrum disorders using intervention with ProFoveate pellets. Self-stimulating behaviors like hand flapping, eye blinking, and rocking, can interfere with the individual's ability to interact with their peers. Participants will wear the pellets for four week and measures with taken again. Another group of participants will not get the pellets. Both groups will be tested at the beginning and end of the study. Any variations in self-stimulating behaviors will be documented through parent report, Observational data. The investigators hypothesize that they will see changes in self- stimulating behaviors as a result of the strategic placement of the ProFoveate™ pellets on the ears of one group of the participants.

Teachers are increasingly faced with classrooms of students whose needs require support far beyond what traditional teacher-training programs prepare educators to provide. The presence of students with greater challenges in classrooms is due in part to the move to a full inclusion model of education and also to the rising epidemic of mental health disorders in youth. Mental health problems affect up to one million Canadian youth and their families. However, few of these individuals (~20%) receive the support they need (Kirby, 2013; Kutcher & McLuckie, 2013). The Teacher Help research team along with industry partner, Velsoft, and key knowledge user, Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, will address this barrier by developing, evaluating, and commercializing a sustainable eHealth resource for teachers. Teacher Help is an online program that assists teachers in providing evidence-based interventions to students in grades 1-12 with mental health disorders in the classroom. The program allows teachers in a typical classroom setting to access information and expert-coach and peer support when they need it, so they can intervene early in order to reduce the negative consequences of mental health disorders in youth. Currently three modules (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD], Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD], and Learning Disabilities [LD]) are at different stages in the innovation pipeline. The investigators will test whether teachers make good use of this program and whether it is effective in improving mental health outcomes among children and youth both at school and at home. The investigators will also study whether the program changes teacher's attitudes toward children and youth with these disorders. The investigators will provide information to the Department of Education on how to use this program. This approach will help ensure that the program will continue after the research study ends. To the Teacher Help team's knowledge Teacher Help is the first and only research-validated eHealth program directly targeting teachers to help them intervene with children and youth who have mental health disorders, thus allowing Canada to take a lead in eHealth as applied to a school context.

Antifungal therapy is widely used for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The current investigation will examine the effects of fluconazole on behavioral functioning among children with ASD. This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of oral fluconazole in children who meet criteria for ASD. Pre- and post-treatment behavioral ratings will be used to evaluate the efficacy of fluconazole therapy. In addition, children will undergo comprehensive medical history, physical examination, and laboratory analyses. Our objective is to quantify differences in behavioral functioning between the fluconazole treatment and a placebo. Our primary hypothesis is that, on average and relative to the placebo, children with ASD who receive fluconazole will show greater improvements in symptoms of autism.

Rationale: Currently, for youngsters there is no treatment available that directly targets the core symptoms of autism. EMDR is hypothesized to improve the core symptoms of ASD by reducing the generally high stress levels experienced during social interactions, and increasing the functional connectivity in neuronal networks associated with executive functioning and limbic circuitry. Objective: The primary objective of the study is to determine if EMDR reduces the core symptoms of ASD and daily experienced stress in youngsters diagnosed with ASD. Study design: Longitudinal multiple single case studies. Study population: Youngsters aged 12-21 years who are diagnosed with ASD and have a full-scale IQ of 80 or more (N=20). Intervention: 10 weekly EMDR sessions. Main study parameters/endpoints: The main endpoint of the study are autism symptoms, which will be assessed using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-A) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS 2). The SRS-A will be administered prior, during and after treatment. The ADOS 2 will be administered prior to treatment and after treatment completion. In addition, we will also administer the Trauma Symptom Investigation Form in Autism Spectrum Disorders (TIF-ASD) questionnaire prior to, during, and after treatment. Furthermore, to answer more fundamental questions concerning the working mechanism of EMDR in ASD, other secondary outcome measures (i.e. PSS-10, AWMA-2) will be included. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: Participants are expected to benefit from treatment. The risks associated with study participation are considered negligible and the burden associated with participation is estimated as low.