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ID
Source
Brief title
Health condition
Neuropsychology
Adolescents
High Functioning Autism
Working Memory
Neuropsychologie
Adolescenten
Hoog Functionerend Autisme
Werk geheugen
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
The neuropsychological WM parameters and behavioural WM parameters as obtained by the neuropsychological tasks and the questionnaires. The endpoints for the neuropsychological tasks and behavioural data as obtained by the questionnaires are standardized (z-) scores. This all will be processed in terms of:
1. Correlation between neuropsychological test results, and behavioural questionnaires data results;
2. Differences between adolescents with HFA and normal controls.
Secondary outcome
The study parameters of the Delphi procedure are the answers of the experts on questionnaires. These questionnaires will be made on the basis of the results of the main study. The endpoints of this procedure are the mean scores of the final round of the experts’ forecasts.
Background summary
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental syndrome. The aetiology of ASD is still unknown, and in spite of many studies the main cognitive theories of ASD - Theory of Mind deficit hypotheses, Weak Central Coherence account, and the Executive dysfunction theory - fail to explain the broad spectrum of symptoms
found in ASD.
In the Netherlands a growing number of high average intelligent (HAVO/VWO) adolescents with autism is in the need for special secondary education due to their social, executive function (EF) and specific learning problems. Although these adolescents experience many
problems in their everyday life, it is very difficult to objectify these problems in clinical or laboratory settings due to the compensation strategies these adolescents apply in these structured settings. This makes the need for finding new ways to objectify their problems and to target (educational) intervention specified to their needs, especially high.
Although there have been many studies that looked at working memory (WM) (a core domain of EF) in adolescents with high functioning autism (HFA), the results remain inconclusive. In these studies it is assumed that WM only processes abstract information. However our hypothesis is that WM plays a more central role in processing both 'cold' and 'hot' cognitive information. WM capacity problems therefore may play a leading role in the multiple symptoms displayed by adolescents with HFA.
This study will be a case-control study.
Study population: Adolescents with HFA aged 12-16 years, and a normal control group. The study will be performed at Epilepsy Centre Kempenhaeghe Heeze, Special
Education School de Berkenschutse Heeze and at the Radboud University Nijmegen.
Study objective
In our view a proper functioning working memory (WM) is not only important for cognitive processes as language, memory etc. (i.e. ‘cold’ cognitive information), but is also essential for successfully navigating in the social world (i.e. ‘hot’ cognitive information).
Therefore our hypothesis is that WM plays a more central role in remembering, uploading and selecting social cues from the environment, hence in processing both ‘cold’ and ‘hot’ cognitive information. WM capacity problems therefore may play a leading role in the multiple symptoms (both ‘cold’ and ‘hot’ cognitive) displayed by intelligent adolescents with high functioning autism (HFA).
Study design
Adolescent, one of their parent(s)/ caregiver(s), and their teacher/mentor are asked to fill in at home two questionnaires. The neuropsychological assessment in the HFA-group will proximally take 4 hours. The neuropsychological assessment in the normal control group will proximally take 3 hours. One appointment will be made for the neuropsychological assessment.
Intervention
This study will be a case-control study.
Evenlien M. Barendse
Epilepsie Centrum Kempenhaeghe, Building de Boondert
Heeze 5590 AB
The Netherlands
+31 (0)40 2279502
Barendsee@kempenheaghe.nl
Evenlien M. Barendse
Epilepsie Centrum Kempenhaeghe, Building de Boondert
Heeze 5590 AB
The Netherlands
+31 (0)40 2279502
Barendsee@kempenheaghe.nl
Inclusion criteria
For adolescents with HFA:
1. Age of 12 to 16 years;
2. Autism disorder or Asperger disorder diagnosis made conform the diagnosis criteria as formulated in the DSM-IV;
3. A signed informed consent (IC) from the adolescent and the parent/ caregiver;
4. A high average intelligence conform a HAVO/VWO education level.
For normal control adolescents:
1. Age of 12 to 16 years;
2. A signed IC from the adolescent and the parent/ caregiver;
3. A high average intelligence conform a HAVO/VWO education level.
Exclusion criteria
For adolescents with HFA:
1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. Inability to speak/understand the Dutch language;
5. Vision less than +4.5D or – 4.5D.
For normal control adolescents:
1. 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;
2. Appearance of additional variables that can influence cognitive functioning such as pathology of the CNS, significant hearing impairment, and medicinal treatment for epilepsy;
3. 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;
4. Inability to speak/understand the Dutch language;
5. Vision less than +4.5D or – 4.5D.
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
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Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
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In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| NTR-new | NL2411 |
| NTR-old | NTR2519 |
| Other | METC / CCMO : 10-3-055 / NL-32788.068.10 |
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN wordt niet meer aangevraagd. |