Neurotypical and neurodivergent (autistic) men Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Conditions
Interventions
Randomised, double-blinded, two-way crossover study comparing the effects of a single subcutaneous injection of kisspeptin-54 (25.6 nmol/kg) versus placebo (volume and route-matched injection of 0.9%
Sponsors
Imperial College London
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
Male
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Men aged 18–60 years 2. IQ of >70 as measured by Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence test, Second edition (WASI–II) 3. For the neurodivergent group, participants will be included only if they have received a formal Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis from the NHS or an NHS-recognised provider 4. For the neurotypical group, we will include only participants without a prior diagnosis of ASD and who score <26 on the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) at screening 5. Right–hand dominant 6. Participants must be able to provide full informed consent. We will make every reasonable effort to accommodate a participant who does not speak English as their first language, such as using an interpreter. However, where there is doubt as to whether the potential participant can fully understand the study, we will not be able to include them as their consent would not be fully informed and there may be difficulty in performing the tasks required for the study which would impact the data collected and hence the robustness of the study
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. History of any medical, psychological, or other condition, or use of any medications, including over-the-counter products, which, in the opinion of the investigators, would either interfere with the study or potentially cause harm to the participant 2. Medical or psychological conditions that would impair their ability to participate reliably in the study or give informed consent 3. Any implanted material in the body that would preclude MRI for safety reasons 4. Inability to tolerate MRI scanning (e.g., claustrophobia or inability to lie flat) 5. Impaired vision which would preclude the ability to view the video material used in the study 6. Without access at home to a telephone, or other factor likely to interfere with ability to participate reliably in the study 7. History of hypersensitivity to any of the components administered 8. Participation in any research study within the preceding 30 days (or 2 months if an investigational drug was administered) 9. Those who have haemoglobin levels outside the normal reference range
Countries
England, United Kingdom
Contacts
Public ContactAgathoklis Efthymiadis
Outcome results
None listed