The objective of this study is to assess common and variable processes related to executive functioning and affective processing bias on the behavioral, neurocognitive and neurobiological level between patients affected by autism and/or depression.
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Developmental disorders NEC
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
The main objective of this project is to increase knowledge about the specific
and shared mechanisms of ASD and MDD on a behavioral, cognitive and
neurobiological level.
Secondary outcome
The secondary objectives are divided for each domain that will be examined.
Neuropsychology
Our first aim is to study the nature of the alterations in executive
functioning and emotional information processing across stress-related (MDD)
and neurodevelopmental disorders (ASD) and in co-morbid ASD with MDD in order
to better understand the underlying mechanisms of shared symptoms, like for
example impaired emotion regulation, rigidity, rumination or alexithymia. A
better recognition of these underlying mechanisms may help to tailor our future
treatments to individual patients.
Our second aim is to understand the relationship between these cognitive
mechanisms and prognosis of patients in sense of general functioning and level
of participation.
A third aim is to examine neural markers as underlying mechanisms of
alterations in executive functioning, emotional information processing and
shared symptoms.
Neuroimaging
We will examine brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging
(fMRI). In the current protocol a reward- and punishment-based reversal
learning task (Cools, Altamirano & D*Esposito, 2006) will be done. In this
task the participants have to learn new rules using feed-back with changing
contingencies (reward and punishment). As the rules change, the participants
have to mentally switch between goals and change their response, therefore it
is possible to examine cognitive flexibility. Furthermore, since participants
have to learn new rules from both positive and negative feedback, it is
possible to examine an affective processing bias.
On the behavioral level we can measure accuracy and reaction time. Furthermore,
we will examine if activity differences correlate with other measures, such as
the outcomes of the questionnaires or neuropsychological
Background summary
Co-morbidity of autism and depression has a high occurence, however, despite
this high prevalence and the high impact of both disorders on the life of the
patients, not much research into the co-morbidity of these disorders has been
done. Patients with autism or depression show behavioral deficits in
overlapping domains, such as executive functioning and affective processing. We
therefore want to examine the differences and commonalities in underlying
mechanisms of the different disorders. Characterizing these mechanisms will
advance our understanding of these disorders and may open up new treatment
possibilities.
Study objective
The objective of this study is to assess common and variable processes related
to executive functioning and affective processing bias on the behavioral,
neurocognitive and neurobiological level between patients affected by autism
and/or depression.
Study design
The study design is an observational cross-sectional study.
Study burden and risks
All patients that will be included in this study also participate in the
MIND-Set study (CMO: NL 55618.091.015). Part of the measures from this study
are used for clinical practice. No intervention is done. In comparison to the
MIND-Set study, we will add a 45 minute neuroimaging task which will be
incorporated in the neuroimaging assessment of the MIND-Set study. Since
participants already go into the MRI scanner, the additional burden of this
extra task for the Compass study is minimal. The control participants will
undergo the same procedure as the patients. The burden will therefore be
approximately the same for both the patient and the control groups.
Reinier Postlaan 4
Nijmegen 6500HB
NL
Reinier Postlaan 4
Nijmegen 6500HB
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria patients:
- ASD diagnosis based on the current Dutch guidelines
- MDD diagnosis based on DSM-IV criteria using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders I (SCID-I).
- Age 18-65
- IQ>70;Inclusion criteria healthy controls:
- Age 18-65
- No history of psychiatric disorders
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria patients:
- Sensorimotor handicaps
- Impaired vision or color blindness
- Inadequate command of the Dutch language
- Mentally incompetent to sign informed consent;Exclusion criteria all:
- Exclusion criteria specifically for the MRI section:
o Metal objects in the body (excluding dental fillings)
o Jewelry or piercings than cannot be removed
o Brain surgery
o Epilepsy
o Claustrophobia
o Pregnancy
o Ferromagnetic implants or pacemakers
o Inability to lie still for one hour
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL57242.091.16 |