AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

This study is testing a personalized, two-step approach to help preschoolers with autism who speak very few words develop better language skills. It compares different teaching methods and adjusts the plan based on how each child responds early in treatment. The goal is to find t…

This study is testing two treatments to help control severe catatonia in teenagers with profound autism. Catatonia can cause extreme withdrawal, agitation, and loss of function. Researchers will first try a calming medication (benzodiazepine) and, if that doesn't work well enough…

This study aimed to see if a compound from broccoli called sulforaphane could improve social communication and behavior in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Researchers planned to give 50 participants with ASD the compound daily for 8 weeks and compare them to 30 health…

This study is testing whether an intensive, center-based therapy called Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) can improve social communication skills in young children with autism. Researchers are comparing children receiving PRT to a delayed treatment group to see if the therapy help…

This study is testing whether a 10-week parent training program called Project IMPACT can help improve social interaction and communication skills in young children with autism. Researchers will enroll 80 children and randomly assign them to either receive the parent-led training…

This UCLA study is testing whether adding a specialized speech therapy (PROMPT) to a proven play-based social skills program (JASPER) helps non-verbal or minimally verbal children with autism learn more words and start combining words by kindergarten age. Researchers are comparin…

This study is testing a 12-session program called ASPEN that coaches parents on how to support their young children with autism. The program is designed for families in low-resource communities and is delivered by a clinician and a trained peer. Researchers want to see if teachin…

This study is testing a 6-week online group program that teaches parents skills to help their toddlers with early signs of autism or social communication challenges. The program coaches parents to encourage their child's vocalizations, shared smiles, and social interactions throu…

This study is testing whether artificial intelligence (AI) can accurately identify mental health conditions by analyzing a person's speech. Researchers will enroll 500 people aged 16-60 who are already seeking a mental health evaluation. Participants will complete short speaking …

This study aims to find the best way to prevent suicide among autistic youth, who face much higher suicide risk than their peers. Researchers are comparing two specially designed safety planning approaches for 12-24 year olds: a basic safety plan versus that same plan with regula…

This study is testing a new computer training program designed to help young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) improve the social skills needed for work. The program uses interactive lessons and simulated conversations with virtual customers and bosses to practice workpl…

This study is testing whether a group training program that involves interacting with animals can help children build resilience. It is for kids aged 2-4 or 8-12 who have experienced stressful life events or have an autism diagnosis. Participants will attend 12 outdoor sessions f…

This study is testing a new behavioral therapy designed to help teenagers with autism spectrum disorder manage difficult emotions like anger, frustration, and aggression. The therapy involves 15 weekly sessions where teens and their parents learn skills for emotion regulation and…

This study is testing whether a specific type of family counseling, called Narrative Family Therapy, can improve communication and well-being in families with an autistic child. Researchers will compare this therapy to a game-based activity to see which helps families function be…

This small pilot study is testing whether a new home-based computer training program can improve thinking skills and social symptoms in autistic children and teens. Participants aged 8-17 will play special brain-training games at home for two weeks. Researchers will measure chang…

This study compares two behavioral programs designed to help children with autism better manage their emotions and daily routines. 144 children ages 8-12 will participate in either an emotion regulation program or a school skills program, attending sessions twice a week for 5 wee…

This study is testing whether a nutritional supplement called N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can help reduce restricted and repetitive behaviors in children with autism. Researchers are measuring changes in brain chemistry and behavior to understand how NAC might work. The study is open …

This study is testing a 12-week program designed to help parents improve their child's sleep. It involves up to 50 children, aged 6-12, who have autism and sleep problems. The goal is to see if teaching parents specific sleep strategies can lead to better sleep for the child, imp…

This study is testing whether a Virtual Reality (VR) program can help improve social skills and communication in children with autism. 100 children aged 5-18 will use the VR system twice a week for 12 weeks. Researchers will compare the active VR program to a control VR experienc…

This study is testing whether pregnenolone, a natural brain hormone, can help reduce irritability and sensitivity while improving social communication in people with autism. It involves 40 teens and young adults (ages 14-25) with autism who experience significant irritability. Pa…

This study is testing an investigational medicine called ML-004 to see if it can help improve social communication and other core challenges in teens and adults with autism. About 150 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the real medicine or a placebo (a look-…

This study is testing whether a purified form of CBD, a compound from the cannabis plant, can help reduce severe behavior problems in children with autism. Researchers are enrolling 30 boys, aged 7-14, who struggle with daily aggression, self-harm, or extreme hyperactivity. Each …

This study is testing whether a 10-week online training program can help improve thinking skills like focus, memory, and flexible problem-solving in 5- to 7-year-old Korean children with autism. Researchers will enroll 40 children to see if the program is practical for families a…

This study is testing whether an online job interview training program can help young adults with autism improve their interview skills and get jobs. About 200 participants will either use the virtual training or continue with their usual services. Researchers will track who gets…

This study is a follow-up to check the long-term safety of an investigational medicine called ML-004 in people with autism. It will enroll about 120 adolescents and adults who recently finished a previous ML-004 study. The main goal is to monitor for any side effects or safety is…

This small pilot study is testing whether a laughter yoga program is a practical and acceptable way to help children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) feel less anxious and depressed, and to reduce stress for their parents. The study involves 66 child-parent pairs who will eith…

This study is testing whether playing special games in a virtual reality headset can help improve thinking skills like memory, focus, and flexibility in children and teens with both autism and ADHD. About 50 youth, ages 8 to 18, will be randomly assigned to either try the VR trai…

This study is testing whether sulforaphane, a natural compound found in vegetables like broccoli, can help improve core symptoms of autism. It involves 48 young men with autism who will receive either the compound or a placebo for 18 weeks. The goal is to see if it improves socia…

This study is testing a program called Project AFECT, which provides coaching and guidance to parents right after their young child is diagnosed with autism. It aims to help parents understand the diagnosis, reduce their stress, and connect them to treatment services more quickly…

This study is testing whether a probiotic supplement can improve gut health, immune function, nutrition, and behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers in Ecuador are giving 66 children the probiotic for four months, then having them go without it for f…

This study is testing whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique can help reduce depression in teens and young adults with autism. Researchers are comparing a real stimulation treatment to a fake (sham) treatment in 24 participants aged 13-26 who have both autism and depr…

This study is testing a new support program for parents whose young child (age 2-6) was recently diagnosed with autism. The program connects parents with trained peer guides to help them find services, manage stress, and improve family life. It aims to see if this support makes i…

This study is testing whether a medication called pitolisant can help improve social skills and daily functioning in boys with autism spectrum disorder. Researchers are comparing the drug against a placebo in 62 children and teenagers over 12 weeks to see if it's safe and effecti…

This study aimed to test whether a non-invasive device that gently stimulates a neck nerve could improve various symptoms in people with autism and developmental disabilities. Participants aged 12-40 would have tried the device daily for 1-3 months while researchers tracked chang…

This study is testing a new training program called TEAMS to help therapists and teachers get better at using proven therapies for children with autism. It involves training leaders and using motivational techniques to help providers stick with the training and use the therapies …

This study is testing whether telehealth tools can help families who have concerns about autism in their infants. Researchers are comparing two online approaches: a remote developmental assessment and a set of parent training videos about communication strategies. They're measuri…

This small, early-stage study aims to see how a single dose of the antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro) affects brain activity in teenagers with autism. Researchers will use MRI brain scans and simple computer tasks to measure changes related to rigid thinking and repetitive beh…

This study is exploring the connection between sleep problems and sensory issues in autism. Researchers are measuring specific brain waves during sleep in teenagers with autism to see if the common sleep aid melatonin changes them. The goal is to better understand the brain's rol…

This study is testing a new online education program designed to teach relationship and sexual health skills to autistic young adults in South Korea. Thirty participants aged 18-35 will attend ten weekly group sessions covering topics like relationships, consent, and online safet…

This study aims to understand how gut bacteria might be connected to stress and behavior in children. Researchers are observing children with autism, those in foster care or shelters, and typically developing kids. They are collecting stool samples and measuring stress responses …

This study is investigating how a program designed to improve flexible thinking might change how teenagers with autism learn and how their brains work. Researchers are following 60 teens with autism over time, using brain scans and behavioral tests to see if the training program …

This small pilot study is testing whether a special training program for preschool teachers is practical and acceptable to implement. The program aims to give teachers tools to better support young children with autism or developmental delays in their classrooms. Researchers will…

This small pilot study aims to see if data from wearable sensors (like smart watches) can help researchers better understand how a compound called sulforaphane might affect autism symptoms. The study involves 10 young men with autism who are already taking sulforaphane. Researche…

This small pilot study aims to see if it's practical to use online questionnaires while children receive their usual remote complementary healthcare (like naturopathy and neurological rehabilitation). Researchers will enroll 20 children aged 3-12 with significant autism-related s…

This study aims to find early signs that might predict autism in babies who have a sibling with autism. Researchers will follow 600 infants for their first three years of life, collecting samples like stool, blood, and saliva to look for patterns. The goal is to better understand…

This study aims to understand if taking common over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen during pregnancy affects a child's brain development. Researchers are following up with 685 Danish families from a previous study to see if there are links be…

This was a small pilot study designed to test a new way of teaching language to infants who have an older sibling with autism, putting them at higher risk for language delays. The study aimed to see if parents could learn and use the new teaching strategies at home, and if they f…

This Yale University study is exploring whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called rTMS can affect how adults with autism process social information. Researchers will measure brain activity, eye movements, and social task performance before and after a single stimu…

This study aims to understand how the body's energy systems, called mitochondria, work in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers are developing a blood test to measure mitochondrial function and see if it relates to autism symptoms and development. The study in…