None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study tests whether Oxytocin improves the social communication problems in young people with Autism. It is predicted that individuals from the community diagnosed with autism or asperger's disorder who receive a single dose of oxytocin nasal spray will show improved performance on social cognition tests in comparison to performance on these tests under a placebo. Two single session assessment sessions within a two week period are conducted using a crossover design. All subjects, therapists, assessors, and data entry staff are blind to condition.
Interventions
Young people with Autism Spectrum Disorders are given a single dose of oxytocin nasal spray or an identical placebo in a crossover design with a one-week washout period. For children between the age of 12 and 15 we use a 18 International Unit dose, while people between the age of 16 and 20 receive a 24 International Unit dose. Participants receive the nasal spray, wait 45 minutes and complete experimental tasks. Participants return one week later to receive the nasal spray again, wait 45 minute
Young people with Autism Spectrum Disorders are given a single dose of oxytocin nasal spray or an identical placebo in a crossover design with a one-week washout period. For children between the age of 12 and 15 we use a 18 International Unit dose, while people between the age of 16 and 20 receive a 24 International Unit dose. Participants receive the nasal spray, wait 45 minutes and complete experimental tasks. Participants return one week later to receive the nasal spray again, wait 45 minutes and complete the same experimental tasks. On both occasions participants are observed for a period of 1.5 hours while they complete social cognition tasks. These tasks include emotion recognition (Reading the mind in the eyes) as well as eye-tracking when viewing human faces. The entire trial is completed within these two experimental testing sessions.
Sponsors
University of Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Crossover
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
Male
Age
12 Years to 20 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Male youth with a primary diagnosis of Autism or Asperger disorder with a mental age of 12 or higher.
Exclusion criteria
Females, mental age below 12. Chronological age below 12.
Outcome results
None listed