Autism Spectrum Disorder
Conditions
Keywords
Autism, ASD
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to find out how the brain of people with autism is affected by Propranolol. Propranolol is not FDA approved for the treatment of autism. Propranolol is FDA approved for the treatment of heart conditions such as blood pressure This research is being done because there are currently no drug treatment options for language impairments and social difficulties often experienced by people with autism.
Detailed description
The specific aim of this study is to examine the effects of serial doses of propranolol on social interaction, and secondarily on language tasks, anxiety, adaptive behaviors, and global function in high functioning adults and adolescents with autism in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. The investigators will also examine whether response to treatment can be predicted based upon markers of autonomic functioning, such as skin conductance, heart rate variability (HRV), and the pupillary light reflex (PLR), and whether anxiety can predict treatment response. The hypothesis is that social functioning and language abilities will benefit from serial doses of propranolol, and that those with the greatest degree of autonomic dysregulation, or the lowest functional connectivity, will demonstrate the greatest benefit from the drug.
Interventions
DRUGPropranolol
Propanolol will be given on a titration schedule in which participants will begin with small doses (single capsules) of the drug and increase to a larger dosage (divided over 3 capsules) over the course of three weeks. Participants aged 15-24 years will undergo an MRI.
DRUGPlacebo
Placebo will be given in the form preferred by the participant and on the same schedule as the propanolol regime. Participants aged 15-24 years will undergo an MRI.
DEVICEMagnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
An MRI will be performed on participants aged 15-24 years.
Sponsors
United States Department of Defense
University of Missouri-Columbia
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
7 Years to 24 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis * intelligence quotient (IQ) \>= 85 (if aged 15-24), \>= 75 (if aged 7-14) * Native English speaker * Parent or caregiver must older than 18 years and be a native English speaker
Exclusion criteria
* Taking Alpha 2 agonists * Non-autism learning disorder * Other major psychiatric disorders * Other neurological disorders * Major head trauma * Reaction to adhesives * Diabetes * Reactive airway disease * Thyroid disease * Bradyarrhythmias * Unexplained syncope * Pregnancy * Possible interacting drugs * Underweight (\<20kg if aged 7-14 years) * Factors affecting ability to have an MRI (if aged 15-24 years)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change in General Social Outcomes Measure (GSOM) Assessment | Day 1, 6 weeks, 12 weeks |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change Clinical Global Impression surveys | Day 1, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | — |
| Change in Autism Impact Measure (AIM) | Day 1, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | — |
| Change in Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF-5) assessment | Day 1, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | — |
| Change in Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS-2) assessment | Day 1, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | — |
| Change in score on Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) | Day 1, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | — |
| Change in Semantic fluency test results | Day 1, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | For those aged 15-24 only |
| Change in score on Anagrams test | Day 1, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | For those aged 15-24 only |
| Change in Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2) | Day 1, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | — |
| Change in gastrointestinal symptomology | Day 1, 1 week, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | Rome IV Diagnostic Questionnaire on Pediatric Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (R4PDQ-child) and Rome IV Diagnostic Questionnaire (R4DQA) for adults |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Companion Animal Bonding Scale | Day 1, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | — |
| Change in Sympathetic Tone & Anxiety Measurements | Day 1, 12 weeks | Pupillary light reflex, heart rate, heart rate variability, skin conductance, and blood pressure |
| Changes in salivary cortisol | Day 1, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | — |
| Changes in Sensory Over-Responsivity questionnaire | Day 1, 6 weeks, 12 weeks | — |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed