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Autism Spectrum DisordersNCT00695812

The Development of Younger Siblings of Children With Autism Now at 10 Years of Age

An observational study of Autism Spectrum Disorders, run by Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

Background: Autism is a complex developmental disorder involving difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication, social-emotional functioning, and markedly restricted interests and activities. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 10 to 11 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Autism Spectrum Disorders
How many people
104 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
Sep 2008to Sep 2011
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 10 to 11 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

Study population: The participants in the SIBS-A and SIBS-TD groups, who are now reaching the age of 10 years, participated in the longitudinal study and were seen at the ages of 4, 14, 24, 36, 54 months and 7 years. The SIBS-A group (n = 42) comprises children who have an older sibling with autism. All probands were diagnosed using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (Lord, Rutter, DiLavore \& Risi, 2002) and/or the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R; Lord, Rutter, \& Le Couteur, 1994). Families were recruited through treatment centers, special schools, the national organization for children with autism in Israel, and through families of children with autism. The SIBS-TD group (n = 62) comprises children who have an older sibling with typical development and who participated in the longitudinal study. Families were recruited from maternity wards in Jerusalem. (more information is available in Yirmiya et al., 2006).

Who may be able to join

  • A group comprised intact families who had a child with autism.
  • Intact families with a newborn and an older child who exhibited typical development with no history of any learning and/or emotional difficulties according to parental report

Who cannot join

None listed.

About this study

Background: Autism is a complex developmental disorder involving difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication, social-emotional functioning, and markedly restricted interests and activities. Strong evidence from research conducted with family members of children with autism supports the role of genetic factors in its etiology. Thus, some family members are characterized by the broad autism phenotype (BAP) which involves a clinical picture of milder but qualitatively similar difficulties.

Working hypothesis and aims: Researchers recently initiated prospective longitudinal studies investigating the early developmental profiles of young siblings of children with autism (SIBS-A). Such longitudinal SIBS-A study is currently conducted at the Hebrew University and includes the oldest siblings studied to date. Our main aim is to identify siblings who manifest any autism or BAP characteristics.

Read more

Methods: Two groups, SIBS-A (n = 42) and siblings of children with typical development (SIBS-TD, n = 62), were seen at ages 4, 14, 24, 36, 54 months and 7 years. We plan to continue the investigation at age 10 years, a time when school related abilities and social/emotional competences are more consolidated and to investigate the developmental trajectories of children's abilities from age 4 months to 10 years using growth curve analyses.

Expected results: We expect that compared to SIBS-TD, significantly more 10-year-old SIBS-A will display difficulties related to ASD or BAP related difficulties. We also expect to identify different patterns of stability and/or change in the development of children's abilities from age 4 months to 10 years, between the two groups.

Importance: This study provides a useful approach for the examination of the main research hypothesis regarding the development of SIBS-A. One of the main advantages of using the growth curve analysis is the identification of early predictive markers for future development.

Probable implications to Medicine: This research has significant implication for early identification and the search into the causes of autism and the BAP, as well as for implementation of early treatment and prevention programs. By highlighting expressions of ASD and the BAP in siblings, we may identify early clinically predictive behavioral markers associated with their onset and contribute to the investigation of underlying genetics mechanisms.

Keywords
Neurodevelopmental disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Broader autism phenotype, Siblings, Cognitive language and social emotional development, to identify siblings who manifest any autism or broader autism phenotype characteristics
Medical subject headings
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Neurodevelopmental Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT00695812
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
1Siblings of children with Autism
2Siblings of children with typical development

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted12 Jun 2008 (estimated)
  2. Study startSep 2008
  3. Primary completionSep 2011 (estimated)
  4. Study completionSep 2011 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
104 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00695812
Sponsor's protocol ID
Siblings Autism.ctil
Status last verified
Jun 2008
First submitted
10 Jun 2008
Last updated
12 Jun 2008
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Autism Spectrum Disorders, run by Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Jun 2008. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 Jun 2008.

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