Executive Function Group Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder

N/A

Waitlist Available

Research Sponsored by Children's National Research Institute

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Intact or corrected hearing and vision.

14-18 years of age inclusive

Must not have

To preserve the integrity of the neuroimaging data, participants will be excluded if they have a history of neurological disorder, such as an established epilepsy diagnosis, significant brain trauma, hydrocephalus, central nervous system infection, or stroke.

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up 8-12 months before intervention, at start of intervention, 8-12 months after intervention begins, 8-12 months after intervention ends

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing whether a cognitive behavioral intervention can help improve flexibility in ASD by looking at changes in learning and associated neural activation.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for adolescents aged 14-18 with Autism Spectrum Disorder who have an IQ over 80 and can communicate effectively in English. They must meet specific criteria on autism diagnostic tools and have normal or corrected hearing and vision. Those with metal implants, braces, pregnancy, significant neurological issues, or conditions affecting study participation are excluded.

What is being tested?

The trial tests if executive function group therapy can improve learning flexibility in teens with ASD using brain scans (m-fMRI) to observe changes. It's a long-term study where participants are assessed three times over eight months to see how the therapy affects their brain activity and behavior.

What are the potential side effects?

Since this is a behavioral intervention involving cognitive exercises rather than medication, traditional side effects like those seen with drugs are not expected. However, participants may experience fatigue or discomfort from repetitive tasks or the MRI procedure.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

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My hearing and vision are normal or corrected to normal.

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I am between 14 and 18 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

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I do not have a history of major brain conditions like epilepsy, severe injury, infections, or stroke.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ 8-12 months before intervention, at start of intervention, 8-12 months after intervention begins

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~8-12 months before intervention, at start of intervention, 8-12 months after intervention begins

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 8-12 months before intervention, at start of intervention, 8-12 months after intervention begins for reporting.