Magnetic pulses to the brain may ease autism symptoms

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants aged 8 to 30 years with a clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), confirmed by the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition). * DSM-5 severity level of ASD: level 1 or level 2 * Participants who have been on a stable treatment regimen prior to the study, or those for whom conventional treatments have been assessed as ineffective by a physician, or those who decline conventional treatment. * A score of ≥ 15 on the University of California Brief Assessment of Capacity to Consent (UBACC) and demonstrated understanding of study aims and risks via the teach-back method. Exclusion Criteria: * Previous or current severe neurological disorders, especially epilepsy, visual or auditory impairments * Previous or current severe systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or hypertension * Previous or current severe brain injury * Implementation of metal materials such as a pacemaker or medication pump * Previous or current severe psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or substance abuse * Pregnancy * Presence of significant brain abnormalities, such as intracranial space-occupying lesions * Previous brain surgery or central nerve system infection * Concurrent use of medications which increased the risk of seizure attack * Participate in another clinical trial within one month * With damaged skin at the stimulated region * With multiple sclerosis * With large ischemic scars * Have experienced sleep disorders during brain stimulation * Severe alcoholism * Concurrent use of antiepileptic drugs * Uncontrollable migraines due to increased intracranial pressure * Unsuitable for MRI (e.g. those with claustrophobia) * Unsuitable for EEG * DSM-5 severity level of ASD: level 3 * Current major depressive disorder * Suicidal ideation within one year * Currently taking tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), analgesics, or any medications known to lower the seizure threshold. Withdrawal Criteria: * Seizure attack during the study period * Autistic symptoms worsened obviously during the study period (change of DSM-5 severity level) * Extreme agitation or irritability during the study period * Participants request * Clinical symptoms worsened obviously during study period * Start to use antiepileptic drugs during study period * Suicidal ideation or self-harm behaviors during study period * Changes in the frequency or dosage of concurrent treatments during the study period.