Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Oxytocin-based Pharmacotherapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders: Investigating the Neural and Behavioral Effects of a Promising Intervention Approach
Brief Summary: The current trial aims to explore the neural and behavioral effects of oxytocin in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Oxytocin is a nonapeptide produced by the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus and is known to play a pivotal role in a variety of complex social behaviors. Initial studies showed that intranasal administration of oxytocin can have a positive effect on social functioning in ASD.

However, future studies are necessary to explore whether and how oxytocin effects neural processes in the brain underlying these behavioral improvements. This trial will not only measure behavioral enhancements, but will specifically focus on elucidating the associated neurophysiological changes by guiding the administration of oxytocin with regular neurophysiological assessments.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Males or females ages 6 to 12 years
* Diagnosis of autistic disorder, according to DSM-IV-TR using Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (modules 2 \& 3).
* A knowledgeable caregiver capable of providing reliable information about the patient's condition, able to attend all clinic visits with the patient
* Patients over age 12, only if they completed Study MEM-PK-21

Exclusion Criteria:

* Medical history of active epilepsy/seizure disorder except simple febrile seizures
* Participation in any other clinical investigation using an experimental drug within 30 days of the start of this study
B: INCLUSION CRITERIA

All Participants:

1. Male and female participants, ages 8-17 years (inclusive)

   Participants with Autism Spectrum Disorder:
2. Meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 autism spectrum disorder diagnostic criteria, as established by clinical diagnostic interview
3. At least moderate severity of social impairment, as measured by a total raw score of ≥85 on the parent/guardian-completed Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2) and a score of ≥4 on the clinician-administered Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale (ASD CGI-S)

Healthy Control Participants:

2. Age-, sex-, and IQ-matched with participants with autism spectrum disorder 3. No Axis I diagnoses, as established by the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Epidemiological Version (K-SADS-E) and confirmed by clinical diagnostic interview 4. No significant traits of autism spectrum disorder, as measured by a total raw score of \<60 on the parent/guardian-completed Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

All Participants:

1. IQ ≤70 based, on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, Second Edition (WASI-II) Vocabulary and Matrix Reasoning subtests
2. Impaired communicative speech
3. Current treatment with the following medications, which are known to impact glutamate levels:

   1. Lamotrigine
   2. Amantadine
   3. N-acetylcysteine
   4. D-cycloserine
4. Current treatment with a psychotropic medication, not listed above, on a dose that has not been stable for at least 4 weeks prior to study baseline
5. Co-administration of drugs that compete with memantine for renal elimination using the same renal cationic system, including hydrochlorothiazide, triamterene, metformin, cimetidine, ranitidine, quinidine, and nicotine
6. Initiation of a new psychosocial intervention within 30 days prior to randomization
7. Participants who are pregnant and/or nursing
8. Participants with a history of non-febrile seizures without a clear and resolved etiology
9. Participants with a history of or a current liver or kidney disease
10. Clinically unstable psychiatric conditions or judged to be at serious suicidal risk
11. Participants who meet for alcohol or drug dependence or abuse on the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Epidemiological Version. If the participant has a recent history of substance abuse, as an added precaution, there will be a 2-week washout period before initiating the trial. There are no known safety issues relating to memantine and recent history of substance abuse.
12. Serious, stable or unstable, systemic illness, including hepatic, renal, gastroenterological, respiratory, cardiovascular (including ischemic heart disease), endocrinologic, neurologic, immunologic, or hematologic disease
13. Participants with severe hepatic impairment (Liver Function Tests \[LFTs\] \>3 times the Upper Limit of Normal \[ULN\])
14. Participants with genitourinary conditions that raise urine Power of Hydrogen (pH) (e.g., renal tubular acidosis, severe infection of the urinary tract)
15. Known hypersensitivity to memantine
16. Severe allergies or multiple adverse drug reactions
17. A non-responder or history of intolerance to memantine after treatment at adequate doses, as determined by the clinician
18. Investigator and his/her immediate family, defined as the Investigator's spouse, parent, child, grandparent, or grandchild.
C: Key Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female children or adolescents, 6 to 17 years of age, inclusive, at the time of the baseline visit
* Meets current diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-of Mental Disorders IV-Text Revised for autistic disorder and displays behaviors such as tantrums, aggression, self-injurious behavior, or a combination of these problems. Diagnosis of autistic disorder will be confirmed by the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised.
* Participant or designated guardian or caregiver is able to comprehend and satisfactorily comply with the protocol requirements, in the opinion of the investigator.
* Demonstrates behaviors such as tantrums, aggression, or self-injury or a combination of these problems
* An Aberrant Behavior Checklist Irritability subscale score ≥18 AND a Clinical Global Impressions Severity score ≥4 at the Screening and Baseline Visits.
* Mental age of at least 24 months

Key Exclusion Criteria:

* Treatment resistant to neuroleptic medication, based on lack of therapeutic response to 2 different neuroleptics after treatment for at least 3 weeks each.
* Previous treatment with aripiprazole for at least 3 weeks duration at an adequate daily dose, without demonstrating a clinically meaningful response.
* Lifetime diagnosis of bipolar disorder, psychosis, or schizophrenia, or a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder
* Diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified, Asperger's Syndrome, Rett's Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, or Fragile X Syndrome
* History of neuroleptic malignant syndrome
* At significant risk for suicide based on history or routine psychiatric status examination
* A seizure within the past year
* History of severe head trauma or stroke
* History or current evidence of any unstable medical conditions that would expose the patient to undue risk of a significant adverse event or interfere with assessments of safety or efficacy during the course of the trial
* Weight lower than 15 kg
* Known allergy or hypersensitivity to aripiprazole or other dihidrocarbostyrils
* History of a clinically significant low white blood cell count or a drug-induced leukopenia/neutropenia
* Any other medically significant abnormal laboratory test or vital sign result or electrocardiogram finding
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger Syndrome or Autism
* Male
* Age between 18 and 40 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

* Associated neuro(psycho)logical disorder (i.e. epilepsy, concussion, stroke)
* Eye sight worse than + or - 7
* Genetic syndrome
* Color blindness
* Any contraindication to neuroimaging research as assessed with the MRI screening list:

MRI contraindications:

pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, ear implant / a cochlear implant, insulin or implanted pump, a neurostimulator or VP shunt, any metallic object in the eyes (metallic fragments)

Answer: D