Autism Spectrum Research Studies

Feasibility of Using Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) as a Marker of Autonomic Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorders

The Autism Treatment Group, headed by Dr. Eric London at the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (Staten Island, NY) is looking for volunteers for a study that measures how well the nervous system is working in people with and without autism spectrum disorders. We are looking at differences in stress and relaxation responses, and we track these differences by measuring specific changes in heart rate. Volunteering for this study will help us learn if we can apply this measurement, especially in future treatments designed to improve nervous system responses.

Eligibility:

• Healthy males or females between the ages of 14-40 years
• Have a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder OR, be typically developed
• No current medications that affect the nervous system or heart rate (for example, Ritalin- please call/email to check if unsure)
• No other psychiatric diagnoses (for example, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia)

Participation:

If you or your child consents to be part of our study, we will interview to ask about developmental, psychological and medical history. Our study requires at least 4 visits to our lab, 30-45 min. each. We will measure heart rate changes in different conditions (for example, 'work' - a video-game memory task, and 'play' - relaxation/leisure time). We use a small heart rate monitor, similar those used in exercise programs, to record heart rate.

Please contact us if you have any questions, or want more information!

Jenny Foster
Behavioral Sciences Bldg 28
1050 Forest Hill Rd
Staten Island, NY 10314
Phone: (718) 494-8027
Email: ibr.autism.research@gmail.com

This protocol has been approved by the IBR and Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC Institutional Review Board

Expiration Date: June 23, 2011

IRB Approval Number: 476

Michigan State University graduate student, Carolyn Hayter, supervised by Dr. Evelyn Oka, is conducting a research survey to examine how students and their parents view adolescents' school experiences to better understand ways to help them to succeed in school.

Middle school and high school students and their parents are invited to participate in this research.

Your participation will involve completing a short online survey that takes 10-15 minutes. If you choose to participate, a parent must first complete their survey and create a password for their child. By providing your child with the password, you are giving your child permission to participate in this study. Your child will complete an identical survey, which will take approximately 10-15 minutes.

The surveys are completed anonymously; no names are required. Your privacy will be protected to the maximum extent allowable by law. Results will be available to you upon request, will consist only of group data, and will not include any identifying information.

Parents and students who both complete the surveys may enter a drawing for a gift card by providing an email address. Two parents and two students will be randomly selected; students will be eligible for a $25 iTunes gift card and parents will be eligible for a $25 Target gift card.

This study will help us to learn how parents and their children view their experience in school. Your views are important to help us understand what it's like to be a middle or high school student today. Your participation will help to improve the way in which schools support students during this time.

Parents, please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/adolescenceparentsurvey to begin the survey.

For more information, please contact:

Carolyn Hayter
Phone: 508-265-4380
Email: hayterca@msu.edu

Dr. Evelyn Oka
Phone: 517-432-9615
Email: evoka@msu.edu

435 Erickson Hall
East Lansing, MI, 48824

Dear Parents,

I am a PhD student from Deakin University in Melboure, Australia studying Psychology and specialising in Autism and Asperger's Syndrome. I am looking at the social skills and the Psychology of everyday presentation and dress and the mechanisms involved in this everyday task. I hope to gain an understanding and insight into this everyday, frequently ignored act among neutortypically developing individuals and individuals with high functioning autism (HFA) and Asperger Syndrome. In turn, I hope that this understanding will be beneficial in understanding and developing intervention strategies for better social intergration and participation for individuals with HFA and Asperger Syndrome, as well as a newfound understanding into the feelings associated with this everyday task and the social implications. I really need help in obtaining enough participants for my study and I would really appreciate your help. It is only a quick questionnaire, one is for parents to fill out for children between 12-17 years of age, and the other is for individulas agend 18 years and above.

For parents of individuals 12-17 years of age: http://www.deakin.edu.au/psychology/research/presentationanddress

For individuals aged 18 years and above: http://www.deakin.edu.au/psychology/research/fashionanddress

Iskra Galic BAppSc (Psych) (Hons)
PhD Candidate
School of Psychology
Deakin University
221 Burwood Highway
Burwood Victoria, 3125
Phone: (03) 9251 7235

Expiration Date: July 2011

Early Development of Brain Connectivity in Autism

You and your child may be interested in participating in our study: Early Development of Brain Connectivity in Autism. This study is the first effort to examine the functional communications between distant parts of the brain (known as functional connectivity) in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. Functional connectivity is thought to be at the very basis of social, communication, and sensory integration processes that are impaired in children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum.

We are recruiting families who have a child between 3 and 5 years old with a diagnosed or suspected autism spectrum disorder.

The study consists of a no-cost diagnostic evaluation and an fMRI scan during the child's natural sleep (at night). Upon completion of the study, you will receive a written report summarizing the results of the evaluation visit. Participation is voluntary and compensation will be provided (and travel expenses).

If you are interested in learning more about participating in this study, please contact Rebecca Grzadzinski at 212-263-4673 or rebecca.grzadzinski@nyumc.org.

Thank you in advance for your time and assistance. We look forward to working with you in the near future!

Sincerely,

F. Xavier Castellanos, M.D.

Brooke and Daniel Neidich Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Eligibility Criteria: Children between 3 and 5 years of age with a diagnosis (or suspected diagnosis) of an autism spectrum disorder. Exclusions, such as medical conditions, and scores on diagnostic testing also apply. Please contact us directly for any questions regarding exclusions.

Principal Investigator: F. Xavier Castellanos

Contact Information:
Rebecca Grzadzinski, Research Assistant
Phone: 212-263-4673
Email: rebecca.grzadzinski@nyumc.org

Phyllis Green and Randolph Cowen Institute for Pediatric Neuroscience
NYU Child Study Center
215 Lexington Avenue, 14th floor
New York, NY 10016

Expiration Date: On going

IRB Approval Number: 08-929

A longitudinal MRI Study of infants at Risk for Autism

Research study announcement from the Center for Autism Research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Do you have a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who has a younger infant sibling?

The Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS) at the Center for Autism Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is looking for participants!

Twin and family studies have shown that younger brothers and sisters of children with autism are at a higher risk of developing autism than those children who do not have relatives with this condition. Information gained about early brain development in children with autism may improve methods of early detection and intervention for infants who may be at risk for developing autism. Earlier identification and treatment may lead to better outcomes for these young children and their families.

At the Center for Autism Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, we aim to identify very early brain features that may be characteristic of infants at risk for autism. To do this, we are actively seeking to enroll families who have a child with an autism spectrum disorder and an infant sibling 6 months old or younger for the Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS). Developmental evaluations and MRI scans of your infant's brain will be completed at 6, 12, and 24 months of age. Compensation for participation is also provided, and travel arrangements can be made for families traveling from further distances.

For more information, please contact:

Deb Dunn
Phone: 1-866-570-6524 (toll free)
Email: autism@email.chop.edu

Protocol No: 2007-12-5689
Protocol Date: 03-03-2008
Dr Robert T Schultz

Neurocircuitry of Developmental Differences in Social and Repetitive Behaviors: MRI, fMRI and TMS Studies

Purpose: This study uses functional brain imaging and noninvasive brain stimulation techniques to study the brain basis of developmental disorders. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) will be used to study the neurocircuitry of certain symptom clusters in developmental disorders.

Study Design:Subjects with Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified will be compared to healthy controls using a panel of neuropsychological tests, fMRI, and TMS. The fMRI paradigm is a passive task requiring the subject to watch a short series of films in the scanner. The form of TMS used in this study is low frequency TMS, which is minimal risk.

Volunteers should be between the ages of 18 - 35 and will receive a compensation of $15/hour plus $15 per procedure.

For more information, please contact:

Alexandra L Sporn, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Division of Brain Stimulation and Therapeutic Modulation
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York State Psychiatric Institute
1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 21
New York, NY 10032

Office: 212-543-5647
Fax: 212-543-4284
Email: BBClinic@columbia.edu

IRB protocol #5438

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

The purpose of this research is to find out how young people with Asperger Syndrome (A.S) and others view their social interactions and skills. Your child may be in this study if they have been diagnosed with AS and are between the ages of 10 - 17.

If you and your child decide to take part in this study, you will both be asked to complete separate questionnaires. Your child will also be asked to complete a one-on-one interview with me. The study will be held at your home in 2 sessions each taking about 45 minutes and will require a total of 90 minutes of you and your child's time. When the study is completed, you and your child will be paid with a $10.00 Barnes and Noble gift card for taking part.

I would like to audiotape your child's interview for the purpose of later transcription and analysis.

For more information about this project, please contact:

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Philadelphia, PA

Shawn Dolan
Phone: 610-529-0644
Email: dolanshawn@hotmail.com

Dr. Daniel Ingram
Phone: 215-871-6947

Protocol number H07-031

Research Survey for University at Buffalo

I am posing this message to ask for potential participants who would consider helping me to conduct a research in understanding the psychosocial adjustment of the family member raising/having a child with Asperger's Syndrome.

Participation in this study involves completion of a set of online questionnaires that will take up to 1.5 hours to complete. The content is to understand stress, resources, coping, and personal strengths in relation to your own mental wellness.

For more information about this project, please contact:

University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY

Gloria Lee, educator/psychologist
Phone: 716-645 2484 x1068
Email: glee4@buffalo.edu

IRB number 2336

Understanding Sexuality and Relationships of Adults with High-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)

Do You Have High-Functioning Autism, Asperger's Disorder, or PDD-NOS?

Are you between the ages of 21 - 65?

Are your cognitive abilities within the low average to above average range?

Would you be interested in learning more about yourself and how you feel about relationships and sexuality?

If you answered yes to the above questions, you are eligible to participate in a research study being conducted by researchers at the North-Shore-LIJ Center for Autism and the University of New Brunswick.

The purpose of this study is to better understand sexuality and relationships of adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The information collected from the study may increase knowledge of how best to help teens and adults with ASDs experience healthy sexual development.

Participation in this study involves completion of a set of online questionnaires at www.unbstudy.com that will take between 45 minutes and 1¼ hours to complete.

For more information about this project, please contact:

Shana Nichols, Ph.D., Psychologist
Phone: 516-802-8600

Sandra Byers, Ph.D., Psychologist
Phone: 506-458-7697

IRB number 07.04.051

Study of Speech Treatment for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Who Do Not Talk Yet

Purpose: We at the Yale Child Study Center are conducting a research project for children with ASD who are between three and six years of age and not yet talking. We are looking for children in this age range who say fewer than 10 words. We will be contrasting two different treatment programs, one that uses very structured discrete trial methods, and one that is more naturalistic. In order to study these treatments most effectively, we will need to assign children to treatments randomly. That means that you will not be able to choose which treatment your child gets, or to change the treatment group to which s/he is assigned. Both treatments will be delivered individually for 12 weeks, with three 45 min. sessions per week by a specially trained speech-language pathologist. No matter which treatment your child receives, we will ask all families to participate in parent training also. This training will help you carry over the treatment once the 12 weeks are over. We will also ask you to bring your child back six months after treatment ends so we can see whether the effects of the treatment have lasted over time.

Criteria for Participation:

• Children with a diagnosis of ASD
• Ages 3 and 6 years
• Uses fewer than 10 words
• Must be able to attend treatment sessions at Yale Child Study Center 3x/week for 12 weeks
• At least one parent must be able to participate in 9 evening parent training sessions

Elizabeth Schoen, M.S. CCC-SLP
Phone: 203-737-1267
Email: elizabeth.schoen@yale.edu

Moira Lewis, M.S. CCC-SLP
Phone: 203-764-7490
Email: moira.lewis@yale.edu

HIC# 0612002071

The Simons Simplex Collection

The Simons Simplex Collection is a bold new initiative to search for the causes of autism. Researchers at eleven sites in North America will collect DNA samples from families with just one child affected by an autism spectrum disorder. This valuable data will be available to the best scientific minds in the world to search for clues that will lead to important breakthroughs. The Simons Foundation, a New York-based philanthropic organization, has committed millions of dollars to the Simons Simplex Collection, and other cutting edge autism research.

Eligibility Requirements

• One child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), age five or older,
• One or more siblings without ASD, age four or older, and
• Both biological parents who are willing to participate.

Three Research Components

1. Children with ASD will receive a free behavioral assessment.
2. All family members will donate blood, a source of DNA. The samples will be stored without identifying information to protect the privacy of individuals and families.
3. Families will be contacted for follow-up questions as researchers pursue promising findings.

Columbia University / New York State Psychiatric Institute
Simons Simplex Collection
1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 74
New York, NY 10032
Phone: 212-543-6705
Email: autismresearch@childpsych.columbia.edu

IRB: Investigations Committee protocol #5302

Are you interested in participating in a focus group concerned with STIGMA?

For research conducted at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University, we are currently recruiting people with Asperger's Syndrome and/or their family members and advocates to participate in a focus group designed to increase public awareness of the impact of stigma on the lives of individuals with these conditions. Focus group participants may also have the opportunity to volunteer to participate in follow-up individual interviews.

The focus group will be approximately 2 hours long and will take place on campus at Rutgers University. Participants will have the opportunity to contribute to valuable research and to discuss relevant issues with similar individuals. A small gift certificate will be given to participants for their contribution to the research.

If you would like information about the study, or think you might like to participate, please send an email or leave a message with your contact information at 732-932-1171. Of course, getting in touch with us does not commit you to anything.

Jamie Walkup
Associate Professor
Rutgers University
Phone: 732-932-0150
Email: thestigmaproject@yahoo.com

Website: http://gsappweb.rutgers.edu/

This study has been approved by the Rutgers University Institutional Review Board (IRB) as project 06-468.

Seeking Adults with Autism or Asperger's Disorder to Assist with the Development of a Diagnostic Questionnaire

We are developing a questionnaire to identify adults with autism and asperger's disorder. It consists of 78 brief questions that are answered by making a check mark in one of four columns. The questions concern general experiences and attitudes and not personal information. It takes less than one hour to complete, and does not need to be completed at one time.

All information on the questionnaire is coded by a computer and kept strictly confidential. This insures that no one can ever be identified by name or otherwise be recognized.

The California Institutional Review Board, Inc. (www.cpmc.org/professionals/research/irb) and the California Graduate Institute (www.cgi.edu) have approved the questionnaire. All professional, State of California, and Federal Guidelines for protection of human subjects are being followed to assure confidentiality. An "Informed Consent to Participate in Research" to sign will be given to you before you are given the questionnaire.

We prefer to have you fill out the questionnaire when we are present or via an e mail/phone combination so we can answer any questions you might have. We will be glad to arrange to visit you at you convenience or we can meet at our office near UCLA in West Los Angeles. We will reimburse you for any expenses that you have in connection with helping us (transportation, etc.) and a subject fee of ten dollars is available.

There is obviously a great need for an objective questionnaire to assist individuals and professionals in identifying adults with autism and asperger's diagnosis. We thank you in advance for considering to help us in this important project.

Email: eritvo@aol.com
Phone: 310-476-5109

Edward R. Ritvo MD is an internationally recognized medical expert, researcher and pioneer in the field of autism and Asperger's disorder and co-author of the official diagnostic criteria in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Much of what is known about these disorders today is based on his painstaking research and groundbreaking discoveries. In his new book, Understanding the Nature of Autism and Asperger's Disorder, Forty Years of Clinical Practice and Pioneering Research he shares his forty years' experience and opens his extensive UCLA casebook to the reader.

Addendum

Dear Adult Friends With Autism or AS,

We are writing to thank you for helping us in the past to develop a questionnaire (THE RAADS) to assist clinicians in diagnosing autism and Asperger's disorder, to assist us in getting better services for individuals on the ASD and to clarify diagnostic issues.

So far we have given the questionnaire to over fifty adults with autism and Asperger's disorder and fifty without for comparison. The results show that the questionnaire identifies those with autism and Asperger's disorder very clearly. We have reported these results in an article accepted for publication in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities, (in press) and will be glad to send you a copy if you wish. Just let us know by phone, fax, or e-mail.

At this time we need you to fill out the questionnaire again. This is a very important part of the research because we need to know if the questionnaire is "reliable" in a scientific way. That means, does it give the same results when you give it a second time as it did the first time. For example, to see if a thermometer is "reliable" you would have to take someone's temperature a second time and compare the temperature it give to the first time to see if it is "reliable."

All the information we need this time is your name, which we will match with you computer coded first test, so please ignore the rest of the questions on the first page of the questionnaire.

We are always be available to answer you questions and offer any advice we can about the questionnaire or whatever else you want to ask us.

We thank you for your past help and for assisting in the "reliability" study by refilling out the questionnaire again.

If you have never taken the questionnaire and are interested in doing so, we are expanding the original study and need new adult individuals with a diagnosis of AS or autism as well.

Best regards,

Ed and Ari Ritvo
Riva Ariella Ritvo PhD
The Yale Child Study Center
Edward Ritvo MD
UCLA School of Medicine
The Ritvo Clinic
Phone: 310-825-0220

Asperger Syndrome Research Projects

From Rhonda Conklin at SPAN

As you may know the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (federal law) makes some changes from the IDEA 1997 including, but not limited to, the following couple examples.

1. The new IDEA eliminates the requirement for short-term objectives or benchmarks.

2. The new IDEA eliminates the requirement to periodically report to parents their child's progress and whether the progress is sufficient to meet the annual goals by the end of the year.

Soon the state will be revising its Special Education Codes. If we voice our concerns we may be able to protect these and other rights in the state's code revision. Please take the time to complete the short survey at the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network.

New Jersey Answers for Autism Survey

Scientists at the New Jersey Medical School are establishing a comprehensive Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) database.

The New Jersey Answers for Autism Survey asks many questions about the development, functional characteristics and medical status of persons with autism.

The goals of the New Jersey Answers for Autism Survey are to identify possible ASD risk and protective factors, to characterize ASD sub-groups and to develop a scientific understanding of how persons with ASD change over time and in response to interventions. Information arising from the Survey will also be used to inform health and educational professionals and policymakers about the prevalence and distribution of autism and the evolving status and needs of persons and families affected by autism.

If you have a child or family member with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, or, if you yourself are such a person, you are asked to join the New Jersey Answers for Autism Survey.

The person with ASD should be a New Jersey resident and diagnosed with any of the following disorders: Autistic Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD or PDD-NOS), Fragile X or Rett Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Landau-Kleffner Syndrome, or be showing autistic tendencies or symptoms.

Participation with the Survey is voluntary and confidential. This research study is approved by the Institutional Review Board of the New Jersey Medical School. Completing the New Jersey Answers for Autism Survey questionnaire requires approximately one hour. Annual follow-up with the Survey is requested, but optional.

All Survey materials are available in Spanish also.

To participate in the New Jersey Answers for Autism Survey or to get more information, please call: 888-699-8038 or e-mail autism@umdnj.edu requests and questions.

NIH funded behavioral intervention study

Recruiting families' participation. In return for their participation in a five year study, families will receive considerable in-home behavioral support.

Richard Blumberg, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities
UMDNJ - Robert Wood-Johnson Medical School
PO Box 2688
New Brunswick, NJ 08903

Phone: 732-235-9302
Fax: 732-235-9330
Website: http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter

Adult Asperger Syndrome Study Announcement

This study will examine the preferences of adults (age 20 and older) who have Asperger syndrome. Individuals who participate in the study will be asked about their likes and dislikes, and preferences in their daily lives including home, work, and free time. In addition they will be asked for information about their life history and sensory needs. It is our hope that we will have many participants since this study will be the first of its kind. This study is sponsored by researchers at the University of Kansas.

All information will be gathered by mail using surveys and questionnaires. Participants will be sent questionnaires through the mail with return postage paid envelopes provided for their convenience.

All information will be confidential. Individuals will receive the results of their surveys and questionnaires. If you are 20 years old or older and have Asperger syndrome, please email the researchers at adultasstudy@mail.ku.edu if you are interested in participating in this study.

The Simons Baby-Sibs Project of Social Neuroscience in Infancy

Purpose: To examine the early development of basic social skills in infants. The study will target children that are developing typically as well as children who are experiencing various developmental delays and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We will examine the infants' developmental skills, speech, language, and communication skills, social, motor, and adaptive skills. We will also study the way infants process information about people, recognize faces, and how they attend to speech sounds. This research will lead to the development of new methods to diagnose developmental delays and ASD in infants and toddlers. It will also help us identify key areas for early intervention and new methods of diagnosing delays.

Criteria for participation:

• Newborns with older siblings who were diagnosed with ASD
• Newborns with significant complication of pregnancy or birth
• Newborns without significant complication during pregnancy or birth

Irene Zilber Phone: 203-785-6237 Email: irene.zilber@yale.edu

IRB: Yale Human Investigations Committee protocol #0509000617

Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Autism and Asperger's Disorder

Mount Sinai School of Medicine Neuroscience PET Laboratory Research Study. We are looking for individuals with autism and/or Asperger's Disorder (18-45 years old) to participate in a neuroimaging research study.

The purpose of this study is to learn more about which areas of the brain are involved in attention and how they connect with each other. By learning more about the mechanisms of attention, the investigators may help the discovery of new treatments for autism, Asperger's Disorder, and other neurological and psychiatric illnesses.

Your participation will involve three visits to Mount Sinai School of Medicine. The first visit will involve a diagnostic interview to clinically verify your diagnosis. In addition, you will receive a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan on separate days.

If you receive both PET and MRI scans you will receive $200 in reimbursement for your time and expenses. You will receive $100 if you only have one of the scans.

If you are interested in participating in our research study or if you have any questions, please contact Liz LiCalzi.

Liz LiCalzi
Phone: 212-241-6314
Email: elizabeth.licalzi@mssm.edu
Website: http://www.mssm.edu/psychiatry/PETlab.shtml

LDA Social Disabilities Research Project

Yale University
Website: http://info.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/autism/research.html

University of Pittsburgh NIH Study

You are invited to consider participation in ongoing research projects studying how people with autism think and the genetic link to autism. Nancy Minshew, M.D., an internationally recognized expert in autism, is also the Director of the University of Pittsburgh based Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism (CPEA).

Dr. Minshew is collaborating with a team of scientists from Carnegie Mellon University and University of Illinois at Chicago to find the neurological, genetic, and cognitive basis for autism.

Nicole M. Kojkowski
NIH Center of Excellence in Autism Research
University of Pittsburgh
4415 Fifth Avenue
Webster Hall, Suite 300
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone: 412-246-5484
Phone: 412-246-5470

UMDNJ-RWJ Medical School Childhood Autism Study

Children ages 5 - 17 are needed to participate in a 12 week clinical drug study on autism at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Piscataway.

The purpose of the study is to explore treatment options for children with autism. To be eligible, participants must have a diagnosis of autism and participants must be willing to undergo an interview. The interview and questionnaires may take up to four hours to complete. The interview can be completed at the second visit if necessary. Those who qualify will be closely monitored by the study doctor. Medication will be provided at no cost.

We are looking for patients with a diagnosis of autism or PDD-NOS. They also have to be minimally verbal or non-verbal, which would exclude those with Asperger's.

Sherie Novotny, MD, Principal Investigator

For more information call Kurt Bopp, Clinical Research Coordinator, at 732-235-5690.

Transforming Parent-Child Interaction In Family Routines

Recruitment of Families for NIH Behavioral Intervention Study

The study is a five-year NIH funded research project designed to investigate a comprehensive approach to behavior support with families of children with developmental disabilities and problem behavior, within valued family routines. The study will be conducted at the University of British Columbia and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

A collaborative approach, with researchers and parents working together, will be utilized to help improve the behavior of the child, and the quality of life for the family. Support activities will take place in the home and community of the family, and researchers will periodically videotape the problematic routines, as a means of data analysis. Only the researchers will view the videotapes, they will be stored in a secure location, no confidential information will be shared with anyone outside of the research team, and the tapes will be destroyed following the completion of the study.

The research activities will include assessments and support. A comprehensive functional assessment of the problem behaviors will be conducted, along with an assessment of problematic family routines. The researchers will then work with family members to develop positive behavior support plans surrounding the behaviors. They will also provide implementation and follow-up support throughout the study.

Criteria: The study is recruiting families that meet the following criteria:

• Have a child with a formal diagnosis of a developmental disability (mental retardation, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder)
• Focus child is between three and eight years old and lives in a two-parent household
• Both parents / guardians speak English proficiently
• Focus child engages in observable problem behaviors in a minimum of two typical home routines, and two typical community routines, (or three home routines and one community routine)
• Parents do not perceive themselves to be "in crisis" due to the child's behavior or other family problems
• Parents/guardians agree to have an observer videotape child-parent interactions in typical routines in the home and community
• Both mother and father are willing to act as an interventionist with their child
• Family is willing to participate in the study for at least four to five years
• Family is planning to stay in same locale over the next four to five years

Parents interested in participation in this University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey study should contact Rick Blumberg (rick.blumberg@umdnj.edu) at 732-235-9302 or Sharon Lohrmann (sharon.lohrmann@umdnj.edu) at 732-235-9306.

A Biological Basis of Therapy for Negative Symptom Spectrum Disorders: Risperdal Effect on Frontal Metabolism in Asperger's Disorder

Principal Investigator: Jeffrey L. Rausch, MD

Sub-Investigators: Donna L. Londino, MD, Henry Hobby, MD, Jay J. Pillai, M.D., Jerry D. Allison, Ph.D, Tarunendu Dwivedi, M.D.

This is a 12-week study designed to assess the use of risperidone in treating Asperger's disorder in children, adolescents and adults.

All subjects will receive risperidone. Participation involves six clinic visits and two MRI visits. Standardized rating scales are used to assess the impact of risperidone on negative symptoms and social interactions. A MRI will be administered before and after treatment to measure changes in active metabolites in the prefrontal lobe. Medication and study services will be free of charge. Subjects will be reimbursed for travel expenses and compensated for undergoing the MRI.

Abbreviated Research Subject Criteria:

• Physically Healthy, Males and Females, ages 12 and up
• Meet criteria for Asperger's Disorder
• Does not require additional psychotropic medications during the trial
• No history of hypersensitivity or intolerance to risperidone, or history of any severe drug allergy or hypersensitivity (e.g., Steven Johnson's syndrome)

Contact Joan Holloway at 706-721-6585

Medical College of Georgia, Department of Psychiatry & Health Behavior
Website: http://www.mcghealth.org

Asperger Syndrome Research Study

Brenda Smith Myles and her colleagues from the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas are soliciting children and youth between 12 and 18 years old to participate in a study that looks at some unique characteristics of children and youth diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome.

If you agree to have your child participate in this study, you, your child, and your child's teacher will be asked to complete some assessment measures. Approximately one hour of your child's time as well as one hour of yours and your child's teacher's time is needed to complete the measures. Parents will also complete an interview over the phone.

Although participation will not directly benefit you, we believe that the information that you provide will be useful in understanding and in designing future interventions that will help individuals with Asperger Syndrome succeed at school, home, and in work environments.

You should be aware that even if you agree to participate, you are free to withdraw at any time. If you agree to have your child participate or if you would like more information feel free to email Dr. Myles at asdresearch@ku.edu.