High functioning Autism
Conditions
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Epilepsiecentrum Kempenhaeghe
Eligibility
Age
12 Years to 99 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: For adolescents with HFA: - Age of 12 to 16 years. - Autism disorder or Asperger disorder diagnosis made conform the diagnosis criteria as formulated in the DSM-IV. - A signed informed consent (IC) from the adolescent and the parent/ caregiver. - A high average intelligence conform a HAVO/VWO education level.;For normal control adolescents:;- Age of 12 to 16 years - A signed IC from the adolescent and the parent/ caregiver. - A high average intelligence conform a HAVO/VWO education level.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: For adolescents with HFA: - A diagnosis for other (co-morbid) psychological disorders or psychiatric diseases as formulated in the DSM-IV, such as: attention-deficit and disruptive behaviour disorders, anxiety disorders and mood disorders. - Appearance of additional variables that can influence cognitive functioning such as pathology of the Central Nervous System (CNS), significant hearing impairment, and medicinal treatment for epilepsy. - Use of Methylphenidate. In consultation with the responsible doctor, parent/caregiver and adolescent are asked if they are willing to not take the medicine on the day of the neuropsychological assessment. If all agree, the adolescent may participate in the study. - Inability to speak/understand the Dutch language. - Vision less than +4.5D or - 4.5D. • Claustrophobia. • Metal implants or other contraindication for MRI.;For normal control adolescents: - A diagnosis for a psychological disorder or psychiatric disease as formulated in the DSM-IV, such as: pervasive developmental disorders, attention-deficit and disruptive behaviour disorders, separation anxiety disorders, selective mutism, reactive attachment disorder of infancy or early childhood, anxiety disorders and mood disorders. - Appearance of additional variables that can influence cognitive functioning such as pathology of the CNS, significant hearing impairment, and medicinal treatment for epilepsy. - Use of Methylphenidate. In consultation with the responsible doctor, parent/caregiver and adolescent are asked if they are willing not to take the medicine on the day of the neuropsychological assessment. If all agree, the adolescent may participate in the study. - Inability to speak/understand the Dutch language. - Vision less than +4.5D or - 4.5D. • Claustrophobia. • Metal implants or other contraindication for MRI.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The neuropsychological WM parameters and behavioral WM parameters as obtained by the questionnaires. The endpoints for the neuropsychological tasks and behavioral data as obtained by the questionnaires are standardized (z-) scores. This will all be processed in terms of: (i) correlation between neuropsychological test results, and behavioral questionaires data results, (ii) differences between adolescents with HFA and normal controls. AMENDMENT The neuropsychological WM parameters and MRI technique parameters as obtained by the neuropsychological task and the MRI scan. The endpoints for the neuropsychological task are standardized (z-) scores. The MRI data will be pre-processed, activation maps will be made and compared between normal controls and adolescents with HFA (GLM). Functional connectivity values from ROIs will be compared and functional connectivity maps will be generated. This all will be processed in terms of: (i) correlation between neuropsychological test results, MRI results and behavioural questionnaires data results, (ii) differences between adolescents with HFA and normal controls. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The study parametres of the Delphi procedure are the answers of the experts on the (based on the main study)questionnaires. The endpoints of this procedure are the mean scores of the final round of the experts' forecasts. | — |
Countries
Netherlands
Outcome results
None listed