Active clinical trials for "Autism Spectrum Disorder"

Objectives The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the SREIA parent training program for families of children with ASD aged three to six years in mainland China. The study will be conducted within the context of routine service provision and assess the effectiveness of SREIA in reducing child behavioral problems as measured by the Externalizing scale of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for Ages 1.5-5, in comparison to a waitlist control group. Secondary objectives include examining the effectiveness of the SREIA program in reducing ASD symptoms and improving parental and familial outcomes including parental knowledge of ASD and ABA techniques, parenting styles, parental mental health (including stress, anxiety and depression), and family functioning. A process evaluation will be conducted alongside the quasi-experimental trial, the objectives of which are to 1) describe the implementation aspects of the programs with regard to participant involvement, program acceptability, delivery, and sustainability; 2) explore predictors of participant involvement; and 3) examine potential relations between implementation aspects and treatment effects. Background ASD is associated with elevated levels of child emotional and behavior disturbance, which impair child daily functioning and impose challenges to parenting. The SREIA programme is a group-based parent training in China, that has been delivered since 1993 and reached over 10,000 families. However, there is an absence of scientific evaluations of programme effectiveness. This study aims to fill this evidence gap, and the findings will be used to inform future modification, replication, and dissemination of the programme in other parts of China. This study will also contribute to the literature on the effectiveness of parent training programmes for ASD and for families living in low- and middle-income countries. Methods A quasi-experimental design with a mixed-methods approach will be used, involving two consecutive waves of delivery of the SREIA programme. Parent participants will complete demographic and outcome questionnaires at baseline, immediate post-intervention, and 1- or 1.5-year post-intervention (conditional to funding). The implementation components will be assessed by collecting attendance and engagement registry data, facilitators filling out fidelity checklists, research staff observing programme sessions, and parents answering a satisfaction questionnaire. After the programme, some parents, facilitators, and NGO (non-governmental organisation) managers will be invited to take part in qualitative interviews or focus group discussions so as to explore their views about the programme, and to better understand the quantitative data obtained.

The overall objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the Floreo VR Joint Attention Module in improving social communication skills in children with ASD. An additional objective is ongoing investigation of the tolerability of the product and the extent of potential adverse effects of Floreo VR, if any.

This study was developed in order to assess the effects of risperidone (Risperdal) as compared with placebo on cognitive-motor performance (attention, memory, and hand steadiness) and body movements. We propose to study the effects of risperidone on cognitive-motor performance in children already medicated for severe conduct problems. We would also like to look at safety by assessing these children for dyskinetic movements. We already have a sizable cohort of children maintained on risperidone. Our hypotheses are as follows: Risperidone will have no adverse effects on cognitive-motor performance in children who have received maintenance therapy for 4 to 20 months. Children tested during placebo will show no more dyskinetic movements than during risperidone treatment (i.e., there will be no unmasking of tardive dyskinesia).

The investigators aim at offering to about 80 patients a diagnostic assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and at testing the feasibility of this protocol to detect and diagnose ASD in adults without intellectual disability.

This is a randomized placebo controlled study in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of Slenyto® to alleviate Sleep Disturbances in these children. . The main objective is to compare treatment effect of Slenyto® 2 mg or 5 mg to that of placebo on sleep duration (total sleep time [TST]) as assessed by the Sleep and Nap Diary after 3 weeks of double blind treatment.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of a brief, telehealth intervention (the Emotional Support Plan), intended to support autistic adults to cope with their negative emotions during and/or after the COVID-19 pandemic. The first objective is to develop and refine a brief telehealth-delivered treatment, the Emotional Support Plan (ESP), to help promote adults to cope during periods of acute distress, such as those experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second objective is to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the ESP to support autistic adults to implement emotion regulation strategies during periods of acute distress. The last objective is to yield preliminary data to apply for extramural grants to validate these methods to monitor and support mental health of autistic adults during key transitions (e.g., starting college).

Sleep disturbance has been reported in 44-86% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is the source of considerable stress for the affected individual and family. Sleep plays a role in development and learning processes; thus, the appropriate treatment of sleep disturbance is paramount to optimal outcomes. The empirical base for treatments to address sleep in ASD is sparse, despite wide use of pharmacologic agents such as clonidine (CLN) to target sleep disturbance. A randomized, controlled pilot investigation of CLN for sleep disturbance in children with ASD will allow investigators to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a much larger multisite trial to address the general lack of systematic data available to guide practitioners. Subjects will be 16 children, ages 6-14 years, inclusive, with sleep disturbance and ASD. This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled (PBO), parallel groups study will test the efficacy of CLN following a brief sleep hygiene intervention. Outcome measures include: informant completed sleep questionnaires, daytime behavior questionnaires, and actigraphy. Biomarkers for medication response will include galvanic skin response and skin temperature. Side effects will be monitored throughout the study.

The purpose of this study is to determine if intrathecal administration of baclofen can reduce symptoms of severe tactile defensiveness and autism spectrum disorder.

We hypothesize that oral hygiene habits in children 8-12 years of age can be improved using video format Social Story intervention techniques. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of video format social stories used to inform and educate children and parents about proper dental hygiene technique over a 6 week intervention period. We will measure the success of intervention using data collected from clinical exams and caregiver/participant surveys. Evaluation of data collected will be used to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.

Background: Electroencephalography (EEG) records electric patterns produced by the brain, and can detect conditions such as epilepsy or other l abnormalities that may affect brain function. In EEG studies, electric patterns that resemble epileptic seizures are known as epileptiform pattern. These patterns are associated with an increased risk of seizures, even in people who have not been diagnosed with epilepsy. Epileptiform patterns also appear on the EEGs of some children who have autism spectrum disorders but do not have epilepsy. It is unclear if these discharges are related in any way to the symptoms of autism (behavior, language or intellectual abilities). Divalproex sodium (Depakote) is a drug that has been used for many years to treat epilepsy and other brain disorders in children and adults. Researchers are interested determining whether treatment with divalproex sodium can reduce epileptiform patterns in children with autism spectrum disorders, and in doing so study whether this treatment can improve behavior, language or cognition in children with autism spectrum disorders. Objectives: - To study the effectiveness of using divalproex sodium to reduce epileptiform EEG discharges in children with autism spectrum disorders. Eligibility: - Children between 3 and 10 years of age who have an autism spectrum disorder and show frequent epileptiform discharges on an overnight EEG. Design: This study will last for a total of 9 months, with 6 months of treatment with either divalproex sodium or a placebo followed by 3 months of treatment with divalproex sodium only. Potential participants will be screened with a physical examination and medical history, blood samples, and psychological tests, and will spend the night in the NIH Clinical Center to have an overnight EEG. Children with frequent epileptiform abnormalities on the EEG will continue with the study; all others will be considered ineligible. Eligible participants will receive either divalproex sodium or a placebo to be taken twice daily for 24 weeks. Neither the investigators nor the participants will know which they are taking. Participants will have regular visits (every 2-4 weeks) to monitor for adverse effects and to test for possible behavioral improvement, and will also have overnight EEG testing at 12 and 24 weeks. At the end of the 24-week study period, participants will have the option to have an additional 12 weeks of treatment with divalproex sodium. A final evaluation (including EEG) will be conducted at the end of the final treatment period.