Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Intranasal Oxytocin for the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Brief Summary: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by abnormalities in speech and communication, impaired social functioning and repetitive behaviors and restricted interests. Oxytocin (OT) is peptide that is known for its peripheral effects on facilitating uterine contractions and milk let-down; however, studies, mainly with rodents and non-human primates, has found that OT is involved in affiliative behaviors, including sexual behavior, mother-infant and adult-adult pair-bond formation, separation distress, and other aspects of social attachment. Moreover, OT is known to play an important role in repetitive behaviors and stress reactivity. Given that repetitive behaviors and deficits in social interaction are core symptom domains of autism, and that OT is involved in the regulation of repetitive and affiliative behaviors, it is believed that OT may play a role in the etiology of autism. Moreover, preliminary data obtained by Hollander and colleagues suggests that OT may be of value in treating core autism symptoms. Specifically, synthetic oxytocin administered via intravenous infusion to adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) produced significant reductions in repetitive behaviors and facilitated social cognition/memory in a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over laboratory challenge.

Encouraged by these findings, the primary aim of this study is to investigate the safety and therapeutic efficacy of intranasal OT in treating repetitive behaviors and social functioning/cognitive deficits in adults with ASD. This research embraces a translational approach to develop a novel treatment for core ASD symptoms; given that there are currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medication treatments for core ASD symptoms, this research addresses an important unmet need in the field. The goal of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of repeated Intranasal Oxytocin Treatment (INOT)administration in adults with ASD.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Children 5 yrs to 14 years 11 mos with clinical diagnosis of Autism, Asperger's Disorder, or PDDNOS based upon the ADI-R and clinical evaluation by DSM-IV criteria,
* Mental age equal to or greater than 24 months,
* ADHD symptoms based upon the CASI and clinical confirmed diagnosis,
* CGIS-S rating of 4 or grater for ADHD symptoms,
* A mean item score of \>1.5 on both the Parent and Teacher (non-parent caregiver) SNAP-IV 18 ADHD symptoms or the 9-symptom hyperactive-impulsive subscale (symptoms must be cross-situational),
* Reliable care provider available to bring subject to clinic visits and weekly sessions.

Exclusion Criteria:

* DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder psychotic disorder NOS,bipolar disorder, or major depression (if accompanied by a family history of bipolar disorder) based upon evidence of suicidality, CASI, and clinical interview/history,
* Prior failed adequate trial of atomoxetine,
* Use of other psychotropic medications that produce CNS effects,
* Diagnosis of bipolar disorder, major depression, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, narrow angle glaucoma, other significant physical illness,
* Pregnancy or sexually active females (intercourse in the past 6 months, reported by either the subject or caregiver),
* Currently on effective medication treatment for ADHD,
* Prior involvement in Parent Management Training or other similar program,
* Currently on albuterol or taking beta blockers,
* Taking supplements or other complementary medical treatments where dose cannot be held at current level for duration of study
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Meets DSM-IV, ADI-R criteria for autistic disorder.
* Age 5-17 years.
* Outpatients
* Parent or legal guardian willing to sign informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subject has been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (such as schizophrenia) or a mood disorder, including depression or bipolar disorder (manic depression).
* Subject has caused visible harm to him/herself.
* Subject has an active seizure disorder or epilepsy (seizures within the past year).
* Subject has an unstable medical illness, including heart disease.
* Subject has experienced brain injury.
* Subject has a history of diabetes.
* Subject reports significant improvement of autism symptoms and behaviors to current medication or other therapies.
* Subject has a history of prior treatment with Aripiprazole of 5 mg/day or higher for 6 weeks.
* Subject lives in a far away area and/or does not have regular access to transportation to the clinical facility.
* Subject is a pregnant female or unwilling to use acceptable contraception if sexually active.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder (autistic disorder, Asperger's syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified).
* Significant hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity as determined by a score on an investigator-administered ADHD Rating Scale (ADHDRS)-Home Version that is at least 1.5 standard deviations above the mean for age and sex
* Parent/caregiver's primary complaint about the child is inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity ("ADHD" symptoms)
* Symptoms present for 6 months prior to study entry
* Psychotropic drug-free for at least 2 weeks prior to starting study medication. This drug-free period will be 5 weeks for fluoxetine (Prozac).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Weighs less than 15 kg (about 33 pounds)
* Any another psychiatric disorder that may require a different treatment, including psychotic disorders, major affective disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, or substance-related disorders
* Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) diagnosis of Rett's disorder or childhood disintegrative disorder
* Presence of extreme aggression or self-injury
* Currently taking an effective psychotropic drug
* Currently using other medications that may be unsafe to take with atomoxetine (e.g., potent CYP 2D6 inhibitors, intravenous albuterol, monoamine oxidase inhibitors\[MAO\])
* Inability to swallow study medication
* Presence of a medical condition that would make treatment with atomoxetine unsafe (e.g., unstable hypertension or cardiac disease, asthma requiring frequent treatment with albuterol, narrow angle glaucoma, pregnancy, etc.)
* Mental age of less than 18 months
* Previous adequate trial of atomoxetine
* Previous evidence of hypersensitivity or an allergic reaction to atomoxetine
* Clinically significant abnormalities in laboratory measures indicating an undiagnosed medical condition as determined by the study physician in discussion with the participant's primary care physician
* Clinically significant abnormalities on ECG as determined by a pediatric cardiologist
* Pregnant
* Initiation of a new psychosocial intervention within 90 days prior to starting study medication. 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) 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) will not be considered significant.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Male and Female
* 18 to 55 years old
* Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV (DSM-IV), Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule(ADOS), and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) standards for Autism Spectrum Disorder or Aspergers Syndrome
* Have a high, normal or near normal Intelligent Quotient
* Speak and Understand English fluently

Exclusion Criteria:

* Born prior to 35 weeks gestational age
* Any primary psychiatric diagnosis other than autism at the time of screening
* Medical history of neurological disease
* Medical history of known MRI/structural lesion of the brain
* Patients who are pregnant
* With a medical condition that might interfere with the conduct of the study, confound interpretation of study results or endanger their own well being
* With evidence or history of malignancy or any significant hematological, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, hepatic or gastrointestinal disease
* Taking psychoactive medications
* Who plan to initiate or change nonpharmacologic interventions during the study course
* Who are unable to tolerate venipuncture procedures for blood sampling

Answer: D