Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Trials

Background: Creatine transporter deficiency (CTD) is a genetic disorder that mainly affects the brain in males. CTD causes intellectual disability that can be mild to severe. People with CTD may have seizures and behavioral issues. They may have slow growth and tire easily. CTD may sometimes be confused with autism or other disorders. Better diagnostics are needed. The study team in an NIH study noted that the faces of children with CTD can look similar. For this natural history study, an expert will examine photos of children with CTD. Any shared traits found might help to diagnose CTD. Objective: To look for shared facial features of children with CTD. Eligibility: Males aged 2 to 40 years old with CTD who were in study 17-CH-0020. Design: Some participants in study 17-CH-0020 had pictures taken of their faces. The NIH study team wants to share these photos with a colleague in Canada. This person is an expert at evaluating how genetic disorders affect people s bodies. Participant data collected during the study may also be sent to this expert. This data may include diagnostic images and results from lab tests. Some children did not have their pictures taken during study 17-CH-0020. Parents are asked to take pictures of these children and send them to the study team. These photos can be sent to a secure portal. The photos can also be taken in-person during a clinic visit. The photos may be printed in clinical study journals. But this is not required. Parents will be asked to sign a separate consent before the photos are published.... Read Less

Background: Some patients with unusual genetic conditions are referred to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). They may not be eligible to join current research studies. Testing such patients is a good way to improve the skills of research staff. The findings could lead to new processes and research. Objectives: To recruit a diverse group of pediatric subjects with genetic disorders. To give clinic staff hands-on experience working with these patients. Eligibility: Children any age with a known or suspected genetic disorder. Design: Participants will be screened with medical history and physical exam. They may have lab and other tests. Family members may give DNA samples. Participants will have: Medical history Physical exam Height, weight, and other measurements taken. A clinical evaluation of their disorder. They may have: Blood, urine, and saliva samples taken Imaging tests. These may include x-rays, scans, ultrasound, or skeletal survey. A sleep study A visit with other specialists at NIH A genetic test from a commercial lab Medical photographs taken Other tests Participants may have follow-up visits. They may get medical or surgical treatment. ... Read Less

This research study, Personalized, Responsive Intervention Sequences for Minimally Verbal Children with Autism (PRISM), is designed to maximize language outcomes for limited-language preschoolers, thereby lowering the risk of being classified as "minimally verbal" at age 6, by empirically developing a two-stage, 20-week adaptive intervention approach in a real world community settings. If found efficacious, the adaptive intervention design will capitalize on the heterogeneity and evolving status of children with ASD by providing the best intervention (DTT, JASPER and CET) for children who need it (leading to individualized sequences of intervention), only when it is needed (potentially reducing burden on children). Read Less

The purpose of this research study is to investigate whether tDCS to the cerebellum (specifically, the right crus I/II area of the cerebellum) of children and young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is safe and to examine its effects on some of the symptoms of ASD, such as repetitive behaviors and hyperactivity. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to test a novel, cognitive behavioral treatment strategy to improve social functioning in adults with autism spectrum disorder. The treatment, named TUNE In (Training to Understand and Navigate Emotions and Interactions), includes components to address the many behavioral domains involved in social functioning, including social motivation, social anxiety, social cognition, social skills, and generalization of the skills to community settings. The Investigators will test the efficacy of TUNE In to improve social functioning in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), using a randomized controlled trial using the SRS-2 as the primary outcome measure. Read Less

The primary goal of this study is to examine rhythm sensitivity as a predictor of response to naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (NDBIs) in autistic toddlers. Toddlers receive either Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT), an evidence-based NDBI that supports children's imitation and social communication skills, or a music-enhanced version of RIT. Throughout their participation in the intervention, toddlers will complete study procedures of viewing naturalistic videos of infant-directed singing and other social scenes while eye gaze data is collected. Read Less

The goal of this observational study is to test the modulation effect of different transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the neural network supporting our ability to create mental representations of others (also known as mentalizing) in young adults with autism. The main question it aims to answers is can stimulation of the right temporoparietal junction can change brain activity related to mentalizing during social interaction in the stimulation area and other brain areas connected to it. Researchers will compare results to a group of individuals without autism to see if the patterns of neural activity change are similar between the groups. Participants will undergo assessment of their clinical traits and social skills and baseline MRI scan. They will attend three additional visits that include TMS session and functional MRI scans before and right after TMS. Read Less

Given the increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), estimated to be 1 in 68 in the United States alone, ASD has become one of the fastest-growing pediatric concerns. The deficits of children with ASD range across social communication and academic skills. One of the effective interventions that have been used commonly for ASD is the model-lead-test, which includes modeling, prompting children to practice target skills together, and providing children with affirmative feedback or error correction. Previous research has demonstrated that the model-lead-test is successful in teaching different skills for individuals with ASD, including functional, social, and academic skills. The vast majority of the studies had researchers, therapists, or teachers implement the intervention. However, there is clear empirical support and implications for interventions mediated by more familiar persons, such as parents and siblings, which may lead to better effects, maintenance, and generalization due to more practice opportunities in the natural environments. Research has supported the effectiveness of using parents or peers as agents to deliver interventions for individuals with ASD, whereas fewer studies explored the use of siblings to deliver or mediate intervention. As typically developing siblings are an essential part of the daily life of children with ASD, it makes logical extensions to have siblings as mediators to deliver interventions. In the initial findings, the investigators found the typically developing siblings can accurately implement the model-lead-test procedure that improved various skills of their siblings with ASD. This project will extend these findings by examining the efficacy of the sibling-implemented intervention on early literacy (reading) and social reciprocity (conversation and play) of children with ASD as well as the sibling relationship before, during, and after the intervention. Read Less

The long-term study goal is to experimentally evaluate the components (and likely active ingredients) of early language interventions for young children with ASD. The overall objective is to determine how single-word and telegraphic simplification affects real-time language processing and word learning in young children with ASD (relative to full, grammatical utterances). The proposed project will investigate three specific aims: 1) Determine how single-word and telegraphic simplification affects language processing. 2) Determine how single-word and telegraphic simplification affects word learning. 3) Evaluate child characteristics that may moderate the effects of linguistic simplification on language processing and word learning. Aim 1 will test the hypothesis that children with ASD will process full, grammatical utterances faster and more accurately than single-word or telegraphic utterances. Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that full, grammatical utterances will support word learning better than telegraphic or single-word utterances. Aim 3 will test the hypothesis that language and cognitive skills significantly moderate the effects of linguistic simplification on language processing and word learning in young children with ASD. Read Less

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental syndrome. Researchers think brain development may be controlled by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). They want to learn how abnormalities in the GABA system may contribute to ASD. Objective: To see if repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) creates short-term changes in how different parts of the brain communicate. Eligibility: Right-handed people ages 14-17 with ASD, and healthy volunteers ages 18-25. Design: Participants will be screened with: Medical history Physical exam Medicine review Neurological exam Psychological tests and rating scales Forms and surveys. Participants will have a hearing test and ear exam. Participants will have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. They will lie on a table that moves in and out of the MRI scanner. They may look at a screen while in the scanner. A coil will be placed over their head. Participants will have magnetic resonance spectroscopy. It takes pictures of chemicals in the brain using the MRI scanner. Participants will have magnetoencephalography. They will sit in a chair. A helmet with magnetic field sensors will be placed on their head. Participants will have TMS. A wire coil will be held on their scalp. A brief electrical current will pass through the coil. Participants will have electromyography. Sticky pad electrodes will be placed on the skin during TMS. The electrical activity of their muscles will be measured. Participants will have rTMS. It uses short bursts of magnetic pulses to affect brain activity. ASD participants will have 7 visits over 2-3 months. Healthy volunteers will have 3 visits over 3-4 weeks.... Read Less

Anxiety is very common in autistic youth. Recently, an intervention has been created by the investigators to target these symptoms in autistic youth in a community setting. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of implementing this treatment in community care centers. Read Less

This project aims to follow up on a prior project examining the impact of training therapists in an executive functioning intervention Unstuck and On Target (UOT) adapted for community mental health settings. Study aims are to test the clinical and implementation effectiveness of training mental health therapists in Unstuck and On Target, an executive functioning intervention, relative to Unified Protocol for Children, a transdiagnostic intervention for emotional disorders. This includes examining the implementation of Unstuck and associated outcomes (e.g., effective delivery, expanded use of Unstuck beyond autism, the feasibility of Unstuck) and impact on changes in child executive functioning and behaviors. Read Less