Active clinical trials for "Autistic Disorder"

The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) improves the behavior of children with autism.

Hypothesis: Many children with autism have impaired methylation and antioxidant/detoxification capacity and chronic oxidative stress. A targeted nutritional intervention that is designed to correct the metabolic imbalance will normalize their metabolic profile and improve measures of autistic behavior.

The study is designed to assess the efficacy of treatment with divalproex sodium (DS) vs. placebo in childhood/adolescent autism fulfilling DSM-IV and Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI) criteria. Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments for this disorder, although behavioral and educational therapies and a variety of medications may play a role in the management of some autistic symptoms.

This 8-week, prospective open-label study will investigate the effectiveness and tolerability of paliperidone ER in adolescents and young adults with autism. Hypothesis:Paliperidone Er will be well tolerated and efficacious for reducing aggression, self-injury, and irritability in adolescents and young adults.

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of fluoxetine orally dissolving tablets (ODT) on the repetitive behaviors core domain in children and adolescents with Autistic Disorder. The study will also investigate the effect of fluoxetine on the improvement of symptoms and the effects on daily living of the patient's family.

This study will investigate whether CX516 can improve attention, memory, language, or behavior in adults with Fragile X Syndrome and/or Autism. CX516 is an AMPAKINE® compound. AMPAKINE compounds enhance synaptic strength. There is evidence to suggest that the synapses in the brain of an individual with fragile X syndrome are immature and abnormal. It is possible CX516 may partially correct this synaptic transmission defect and lead to improvement in cognitive and behavioral functioning. There is also reason to believe that these changes caused by CX516 could be helpful in managing cognitive and behavioral symptoms in patients with autistic disorder. Involvement for each participant will last 28 days. Participants will be given study medication, a physical exam, and a variety of cognitive assessment tests to study potential drug effectiveness at improving disease symptoms.

This is a 12-week study which investigates the use of olanzapine to decrease disruptive behaviors sometimes associated with Autism in children, aged 3 to 12 years old. The first six weeks of the study are double-blind and placebo controlled, meaning that patients receive either placebo or olanzapine, and that neither the researchers nor the patients know whether or not they are receiving placebo or olanzapine. In the second six weeks all of the patients receive olanzapine. The purpose in using placebo is that it is otherwise impossible to know how effective the drug is or whether or not the drug causes side effects. Patients treated with placebo can have improvement and can have side effects. In the study patients receive a psychiatric evaluation, physical examination, laboratory tests, and study medication (olanzapine or placebo), free of charge.

The purpose of this study is to learn whether or not the drug called oxytocin is helpful in improving mood and social functioning in adults with autism.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder currently affecting as many as 1 out of 166 children in the United States. Autism is considered by many to be a permanent condition with little hope for improvement. Treatment for autism is centered on special schooling and behavioral therapy; medical science currently has little to offer. Recent research has discovered that some autistic individuals have decreased blood flow to the brain, evidence of gastrointestinal and brain inflammation, increased markers of oxidative stress, and a relative mitochondrial dysfunction. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can compensate for decreased blood flow by increasing the oxygen content of plasma and body tissues and can even normalize oxygen levels in ischemic tissue. In addition, animal studies have shown that HBOT has potent anti-inflammatory effects and reduces oxidative stress. Furthermore, recent evidence demonstrates that HBOT increases the production of mitochondria and mobilizes stem cells from human bone marrow, which may aid recovery in neurodegenerative diseases. Based upon these findings, it is hypothesized that HBOT will improve symptoms in autistic individuals. Our recent retrospective case series demonstrated that HBOT may improve symptoms in autistic children. We recently completed a prospective pilot trial using HBOT in 18 children which demonstrated significant clinical improvements in autistic children on several standardized scales. Most of the scales were parent-rated, although some were rated by teachers. However, parents were not blinded to the fact that their children received HBOT and evaluation of the children was through parent-rated scales, either of which could lead to bias. There was no placebo or control group. Therefore, the improvements found in this prospective study could have been due merely to chance or the natural development of the children. To determine if HBOT improves symptoms in autistic children, a double-blind controlled study is needed.

Autism is a behaviorally defined, lifelong disorder of the brain, affecting at least 1-2 per 1000 children. There is an increasing trend of autism worldwide. However, to date, there is still no cure for this devastating childhood disease. Autism is characterized by deficit in language, social communication and repetitive behavior. It is estimated that the annual cost of care for autism is $13 billion in USA alone. Children with autism usually have associated behavioral problems such as aggressiveness, stereotypes, hyperactivity, emotional lability, and short attention span. The National Institute of Child Health & Human Development and National Institute of Deafness & Communication Disorders have jointly founded the Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism. One of the long-term NIH goals is to develop or refine interim treatment strategy and to develop effective biological, behavioral or alternative treatment strategy for autism. There is a dire need for early identification and treatment of children with autism. Acupuncture has been practised in China for 2 millennia. The legal status of acupuncture as a treatment technique was approved by Food & Drugs Administration in USA (1997). The therapeutic effect of acupuncture is based on stimulation at specific acupoints resulting in both local and distant effect via improving signal or modulation of electromagnetic energy. There had lack of studies of acupuncture in autism. We hope that we can study the efficacy of acupuncture in autism using clinical measurement. We hope to identify the role of acupuncture as an adjunctive treatment for autism.