Active clinical trials for "Autistic Disorder"

To evaluate the efficacy of eight weeks of GFCF in children with ASD on autistic symptoms and ophthalmic findings such as corneal reflex, interpupillary distance (IPD) and pupil size.

The investigators are going to carry out a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to study the efficiency and mechanism of bumetanide on the treatment of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

A randomized pilot trial of a probiotic for quality of life in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), targeting gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.

This is a five-arm designed to assess the safety of L1-79 that incorporates 15 prospectively randomized, placebo controlled patients and 5 open label patients at either 100 tid (three times daily) or 200 tid dosing for 28 days. The open label patients will be assessed for the purpose of understanding PK/PD and to determine if there are any EKG changes associated with the administration of L1-79. Additional safety information will be provided by the 30 patients randomized 2:1 active:placebo.

ASD is a diverse disorder starting in early childhood and characterized by social communication impairment as well as restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. It affects 1:68 children and is an enormous medical and economic problem for which there is no established, mechanism-based treatment. Sulforaphane is an isothiocyanate derived from broccoli, and has potent activity in transcriptionally up-regulating genes that control mechanisms whereby aerobic cells protect themselves against oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation. This study is a clinical trial of oral sulforaphane (as broccoli seed powder) in 50 boys and girls (3-12 years) with ASD in 3 phases over 36 weeks. In Phase 1, 25 children will receive active drug and 25 will receive placebo for 15 weeks; in Phase 2, all children will receive sulforaphane from 15-30 weeks; in Phase 3, children will receive no treatment for 6 weeks. Study visits will take place at screening, 7, 15, 22, 30 and 36 weeks, when the Ohio Autism Clinical Clinical Impressions Scale - Severity and Improvement (OACIS-S and OACIS-I), Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) will be recorded. Children will be monitored with physical examinations and for toxicity with clinical laboratory studies and examine possible biomarkers: Nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2 (Nrf2), oxidative stress and mitochondrial function, the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and cytokine expression. In addition, prior to the main clinical trial, a pilot study will be carried out in 10 children with ASD, 6-12 years of age, who will receive sulforaphane, 2.2 micromoles/kg daily for 14 days. Blood and urine samples before and at the end of treatment will be collected, in order to measure several parameters that are likely to demonstrate expected effects of sulforaphane, to standardize the assays and procedures, and to determine the most effective measures.

In this study, the investigators will be examining the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on executive function deficits in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Half of the participants will be chosen by chance to receive active rTMS stimulation while half will be chosen by chance to receive sham rTMS. Sham rTMS will feel the same as active rTMS only there will be no direct brain stimulation. This is necessary to ensure that active rTMS is efficacious in the enhancement of executive function in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Based on results from a recently published pilot study, the investigators propose that active rTMS treatment will result in a significant improvement in working memory performance compared to sham rTMS treatment.

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 purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a prebiotic (BGOS) on gut microbiota and metabolites in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder have difficulty engaging in activities. This study examined the effects of equine-assisted occupational therapy for 7 children with ASD ages 4 to 8 years. A multiple baseline design was used. For each child, there were 9 to 11 baseline assessments, 9 to 12 intervention sessions, and 4 follow-up sessions.

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.