Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: ADHD Symptoms in Autism: Cognition, Behavior, Treatment
Brief Summary: This study examined the cognitive and behavioral differences in children who have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with or without additional symptoms of ADHD. The study also examined the effectiveness of a range of doses of methylphenidate in improving cognitive and behavioral outcomes in children with both ASD and ADHD.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

Autism/ADHD Group:

* DSM-IV diagnosis of autistic disorder, as per the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)
* Child manifests current symptoms of ADHD

Autism/non-ADHD Group:

* Meets the diagnostic criteria for autism, as above, but does not meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD

Exclusion Criteria:

In both groups, exclusion criteria will include:

* Sensory or motor deficits sufficient to interfere with testing (e.g., blindness, severe cerebral palsy)
* Serious neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy, stroke)
* Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Tourette syndrome, or fetal alcohol syndrome
* Bipolar disorder or a family history of bipolar disorder in a first-degree relative
* Other serious psychopathology that resulted in psychiatric hospitalization (e.g., for psychotic episode). The investigators will screen for this using the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents (DICA)-IV, and getting a complete developmental/medical history
* Serious physical handicaps that would interfere with performance on laboratory tasks
* IQ less than 50 and greater than 130
* Verbal mental age (VMA) less than 36 months (to exclude participants unable to understand simple task instructions)

In the autism/ADHD group, further exclusion criteria apply to the MPH trial:

* History of intolerance to MPH
* Weight less than 20 kg or greater than 59 kg (less than 44 pounds or greater than 130 pounds)
* Concomitant use of dextroamphetamine preparations (Dexedrine, Dextrostat), mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall XR), other MPH preparations (e.g., Concerta, Metadate); venlafaxine, bupropion, atomoxetine, guanfacine, modafinil.
* Concomitant use of any herbal preparations
* Medical condition for which stimulants are contraindicated (e.g., high blood pressure)
* Past treatment failure on a methylphenidate trial
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Written informed consent from parent(s) or legal guardian(s) with sufficient intellectual capacity to understand the study and support subjects' adherence to the study procedures must be obtained for subjects who are not emancipated. In accordance with Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements, the subject will complete an informed assent when developmentally appropriate, to participate in the study before conduct of any study-specific procedures.
* Male or female subjects 6 to 17 years of age, inclusive, at the time of consent.
* A reliable informant (eg, parent, legal guardian, or caregiver) who has past and current direct knowledge of the subject must accompany the subject at each visit and must oversee the administration of the study drug.
* DSM-IV-TR primary diagnosis of autistic disorder confirmation of the diagnosis by a trained clinician (eg, psychiatrist, psychologist, social workers, etc) at the time of screening, by means of the Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R).
* Screening and Baseline ABC irritability subscale score ≥ 18.
* Screening and Baseline CGI-S ≥ 4.
* Within 5th to 95th percentile for gender specific Growth Charts from Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
* No clinically relevant abnormal laboratory values.
* No clinically relevant abnormal vital sign values/findings

  1. Females who participate in this study:

     * are unable to become pregnant (eg, premenarchal, surgically sterile, etc.) -OR-
     * practices true abstinence (consistent with lifestyle) and must agree to remain abstinent from signing informed consent to at least 7 days after the last dose of study drug has been taken;

-OR-

•are sexually active and willing to use a medically effective method of birth control (eg, male using condom and female using condom, diaphragm, contraceptive sponge, spermicide, contraceptive pill, or intrauterine device) from signing informed consent to at least 7 days after the last dose of study drug has been taken.

* Males must be willing to remain sexually abstinent (consistent with lifestyle) or use an effective method of birth control (eg, male using condom and female using condom, diaphragm, contraceptive sponge, spermicide, contraceptive pill, or intrauterine device) from signing informed consent to at least 7 days after the last dose of study drug has been taken.
* In the judgment of the investigator, the subject is able to swallow the size and number of study drug tablets specified per protocol (See Table 4 for study drug tablet size).
* Able to adhere to protocol-specified meal requirements during dosing.
* Have a stable living arrangement for at least 3 months prior to screening.
* Non-pharmacologic therapy (eg, behavior modification) must be stable for at least 4 weeks before screening and consistent throughout the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects with profound intellectual disability.
* Current diagnosis of bipolar disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia or major depression, or childhood disintegrative disorder as confirmed by the MINI-Kid (as appropriate) at screening. Confirmed genetic disorders with cognitive and behavioral disturbances are also exclusionary.
* Clinically significant neurological, metabolic (including type 1 and type 2 diabetes), hepatic, renal, hematological, pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, carcinoma, and/or urological disorder that would pose a risk to the subjects if they were to participate in the study or that might confound the results of the study.

Note: Active medical conditions that are minor or well-controlled are not exclusionary if they do not affect risk to the subject or the study results. In cases in which the impact of the condition upon risk to the subject or study results is unclear, the Medical Monitor should be consulted. Any subject with a known cardiovascular disease or condition (even if controlled) must be discussed with the Medical Monitor during screening.

* Evidence of any chronic organic disease of the CNS such as tumors, inflammation, active seizure disorder, vascular disorder, potential CNS related disorders that might occur in childhood- eg, Duchenne Muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, or other neurologic or serious neuromuscular disorders. In addition, subjects must not have a history of persistent neurological symptoms attributable to serious head injury. Past history of febrile seizure, drug-induced seizure, or alcohol withdrawal seizure is not exclusionary.
* If the subject has a history of seizures, the subjects must not currently be taking any antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and be seizure-free for at least 6 months.
* Clinically significant finding(s) on physical examination determined by the investigator to pose a health concern to the subject while on study.
* A history or presence of abnormal ECG, which in the investigator's opinion is clinically significant. Screening ECGs will be centrally over-read, and eligibility will be determined based on the over-read.
* Known history or presence of clinically significant intolerance to any antipsychotic medications including but not limited to angioedema, serotonin or neuroleptic malignant syndromes, severe dystonia, or moderate to severe tardive dyskinesia.
* Clinically significant alcohol abuse/dependence or drug abuse/dependence based on Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for children and adolescents (MINI-Kid) criteria within the last 6 months prior to screening.
* Clinically significant orthostatic hypotension (ie, a drop in systolic blood pressure of 20 mmHg or more and/or drop in diastolic blood pressure of 10 mmHg or more within 4 minutes of standing up).
* Presence or history (within the last year) of a medical or surgical condition (eg, gastrointestinal disease) that might interfere with the absorption, metabolism, or excretion of orally administered lurasidone.
* Positive test results at screening for:

  1. Urine drugs of abuse (amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine, cannabinoids, methamphetamine, and methadone). However, a positive test for amphetamines, barbiturates, opiates, benzodiazepines or methadone may not result in exclusion of subjects if the investigator determines that the positive test is as a result of prescription medicine(s).
  2. Pregnancy test (only in female subjects ≥ 11 years old).
* Lifetime history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or history of Hepatitis B or C.
* Participated in another interventional clinical trial or receiving an investigational product within 30 days prior to study drug administration.
* Use of concomitant medications that consistently prolong the QT/QTc interval within 28 days prior to randomization.
* Received depot neuroleptics unless the last injection was at least 1 month or 1 treatment cycle prior to screening, whichever is longer.
* Subject has received treatment with antidepressants within 3 days, fluoxetine hydrochloride at any time within 21 days, an MAO inhibitor within 21 days of randomization or clozapine within 120 days of randomization. Depot neuroleptics must be discontinued at least one treatment cycle prior to randomization.
* Use of any antipsychotic medication (other than study drug), carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine or fluvoxamine, within 3 days prior to randomization.
* Females who are pregnant, lactating, or likely to become pregnant during the study.
* Donation of whole blood within 60 days prior to randomization.
* Has a prolactin concentration greater than or equal to 100 ng/mL at screening.
* Subject is considered by the investigator to be at imminent risk of suicide during the study. Subject has a history of one or more serious suicide attempts (based on the investigator's judgment) in the 12 months prior to screening. Subjects determined to be at risk of suicide or injury, as assessed by the investigator at screening, will be referred for further psychiatric evaluation.
* Clinically relevant history of drug hypersensitivity to lurasidone or any components in the formulation.
* Subject requires use of concomitant medications that are potent inducers or inhibitors of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 enzyme system (Appendix C) from signing informed consent until follow-up.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of autism, Asperger's disorder, or PDD not otherwise specified (NOS) base on a semi-structured review of DSM-IV-R criteria and mental status examination as wll as a complete parental history obtained from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and a complete systematic patient interview utilizing the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).
* Males and females ages 5-11 years.
* Significant social impairment as evidenced by a parent-rated Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) T-score of 60 or greater.
* TSSA score of 70% or less on both parent questionnaire and child assessment. Children not showing significant impairment in the four specific social skill areas (greetings/goodbyes, conversations, game play, and understanding emotions) targeted by the SST are less likely to benefit from treatment.
* Communication Standard Score of 70 or greater on the Vineland-II.
* Full Scale IQ greater than 70.
* Subjects must not be taking any psychotropic drugs affecting glutamate neurotransmission (riluzole, memantine, acamprosate, topiramate, amantadine, among others). Subjects may not be taking more than two psychotropic drugs. Dosing of all concomitant psychotropic drugs targeting core social and/or communication impairment must be stable for eight weeks prior to randomization. Dosing of all concomitant psychotropic drugs treating other features associated with pervasive developmental disorders (insomnia, inattention, hyperactivity, anxiety, irritability among others0 must be stable for two weeks (with the exception of four weeks for fluoxetine) prior to randomization.
* Able to participate in group SST based on semi-structured parent and child interview.
* Legal guardian has provided written informed consent and the subject has provided written informed assent. Expectation that a majority of subjects will be able to assent but the potential for the younger children and/or those that are cognitively impaired will not be able to assent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects with diagnoses of Rett's disorder or childhood integrative disorder will not be enrolled since these disorders have a different etiology, course, and treatment response. Furthermore, children with these disorders may not function at a high enough level in terms of cognition or language in order to benefit from the SST.
* Initiation of a new psychosocial intervention within 90 days prior to randomization. Participants who have recently had a significant change in their psychosocial interventions will not be eligible until this intervention has been stable for 90 days in order to avoid confounding results of the study. Stable interventions (e.g., speech and occupational therapy), with the exception of concurrent social skills training, will be allowed to continue during the course of the study. Minor changes in ongoing treatment (e.g., missed therapy sessions due to holiday/vacation; planned break in therapy due to school holidays) are not considered significant.
* Subjects exhibiting significant disruptive, aggressive, self-injurious, or sexually inappropriate behavior will not be eligible for enrollment.
* Presence of current DSM-IV-TR psychiatric disorders that require alternative pharmacotherapy or different treatment including psychotic disorders, or major affective disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, or substance related disorders.
* Presence of any medical condition that would make treatment with DCS less safe. Subjects with significant cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease will be excluded due to concerns about pharmacokinetic alterations or adverse effects. Subjects with a history of a seizure disorder are permitted if the subject has been seizure free for 6 months and is currently treated with an anticonvulsant that has been stable for 4 weeks. D-Cycloserine is an U.S. FDA Pregnancy Category C drug. Because of the unknown effects of DCS on the developing human fetus, females of childbearing potential will be given a urine pregnancy test and required to use a suitable form of birth control during the study. A positive pregnancy test result excludes the subject.
* Presence of any other condition that would make the participants unable to comply with the requirements of the study for any reason.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Males and females, Aged between 3 and 12 years.
2. Autistic disorder - DSM-IV criteria.
3. A score of at least moderately impaired on the CGI-Severity item.
4. Clinical judgment that medication treatment for autism is indicated.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Rett's disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, Asperger's disorder, and PDD, NOS.
2. Psychotic disorder (DSM-IV) (including schizophreniform disorder and schizophrenia).
3. Major depressive disorder (DSM-IV).
4. Bipolar disorder (DSM-IV).
5. History of psychoactive drug in the previous 2 weeks prior to phase 1.
6. A history of treatment with olanzapine for a cumulative period of greater than 2 weeks prior to entering phase 1.
7. Systemic diseases such as cardiac, renal, thyroid diseases, uncontrolled seizure disorder (seizure disorder that is not controlled by anti-epileptic medication - a child who is seizure free for a period of 6 months on a stable dose of antiepileptic drug would be considered controlled), or diabetes mellitus.
8. Children with a known medical cause for autistic disorder.
9. Abnormal fasting blood glucose or history of diabetes.
10. Baseline body mass index (BMI) greater than the 90th percentile for age and gender (CDC growth charts, Kuczmarski et al, 2000) (because of risk of weight gain).
11. Baseline QTc \>450 msec. Note: Historically, patients we evaluate do not have QTc values \>450.
12. Dyskinesias at baseline (per the criteria of Schooler and Kane, 1982).

Answer: A