Therapeutic Impacts of Theta Burst Stimulation Over Bilateral Posterior Superior Temporal Sulcus in Autism Spectrum Disorder

August 29, 2023 updated by: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Therapeutic Impacts of Theta Burst Stimulation Over Bilateral Posterior Superior Temporal Sulcus in Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Comprehensive Study Integrating Clinical Symptoms, Neuropsychological Function and MRI

The investigator would like to investigate the impact of intermittent theta burst stimulation over bilateral posterior superior temporal sulcus in autism spectrum disorder

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

      • Taoyuan, Taiwan
        • Recruiting
        • Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Hsing Chang Ni, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

8 years to 30 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Autism spectrum disorder, confirmed by Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule II (CSS≧6)
  • No change in psychiatric drugs within one month

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previous or current severe neurological disorder such as epilepsy, visual or hearing impairment
  • Previous or current severe systemic disease such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or infection
  • Previous or current severe brain injury
  • Implementation of metal materials such as pacemaker or medication pump
  • Previous or current severe psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or substance abuse
  • Pregnancy
  • Individuals with a significant brain abnormality such as intracranial space occupied lesions
  • History of brain surgery or nervous system infection, such as meningitis and encephalitis
  • Previous febrile seizures
  • Concurrent use of medications which increased the risk of seizure attack.
  • Participate another clinical trial within one month.
  • Unable to complete MRI scan (claustrophobia)
  • Skin trauma on application site
  • Individuals with a large ischemic scar
  • Individuals suffering from multiple sclerosis
  • Individuals suffering from sleep deprivation during rTMS procedures
  • Individuals with a heavy consumption of alcohol
  • Individuals with a migraine headache from increased intracranial pressure

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Active

Participants received the intervention of iTBS (The total pulse of every session is 1200 pulses) over bilateral posterior superior temporal sulcus for 4 weeks (5 days/week).

*iTBS = intermittent theta burst stimulation

stimulatory protocol
Sham Comparator: Sham
Participants received the sham intervention of iTBS (sham-coil) over bilateral posterior superior temporal sulcus for 4 weeks (5 days/week).
stimulatory protocol

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes of total scores of Social Responsiveness Scale
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
Social Responsiveness Scale can measure the autism clinical severity with the range from 65-260. The lower scores stand for better social responsiveness.
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
Changes of total scores of Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised is a questionnaire that focuses on repetitive behavior. The score ranges from 0-129. The lower scores stand for lower repetitive behavior.
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes of total scores of Aberrant Behavior Checklist
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
ABC is a parents' report questionnaire for aberrant behavior. The lower scores stand for less aberrant behavior.
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
Changes of total scores of Emotional Dysregulation Inventory
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
Emotional Dysregulation Inventory is a parents' report questionnaire for emotional dysregulation. The score ranges from 0-120. The lower scores stand for better emotional regulation.
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
Changes of total scores of Child Behavior Checklist
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
CBCL is a parents' report questionnaire for behavioral and emotional problems. The lower scores stand for better behavioral and emotional regulation.
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
Changes of total scores of Adaptive Behavior Assessment System
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
Adaptive Behavior Assessment System is a parents' report questionnaire for adaptive behavior. The score ranges from 9-171. The higher scores stand for better adaptive behavior.
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
Changes in accuracy of Frith-Happe animation
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
A quick and objective test of Theory of Mind. 8 questions in total, the more correct questions stand for better Social Cognition.
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
Changes in accuracy of Eyes task
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
An advanced test for Theory of Mind. 43 questions in total, the more correct questions stand for better social skills.
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
Changes in accuracy of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
An advanced test for cognitive flexibility. 128 questions in total, the more correct questions stand for better cognitive flexibility.
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
Changes of total scores of Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
An advanced test for cognitive flexibility. 128 questions in total, the more correct questions stand for better cognitive flexibility.
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
Raven's Progressive Matrices
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
An advanced test for for executive function. 60 questions in total, the more correct questions stand for better executive function.
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline); One month follow up (8 weeks after baseline); Two months follow up (12 weeks after baseline)
MRI T1
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline)
Brain structural volumes (cm²)
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline)
functional MRI (resting-state/biological motion task) - BOLD signal
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline)
Blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal is a measurement used in fMRI, which reflects the neural activity.
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline)
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) - FA
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline)
Fractional anisotropy (FA) is a measurement used in DTI, which reflects the movement of water molecules. FA ranges from 0 to 1, the higher FA value may represent more intact axons.
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline)
Electroencephalography
Time Frame: baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline)
Resting state EEG (alpha power / frontal gamma power)
baseline; post TBS (4 weeks after baseline)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 3, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 11, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 11, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

October 13, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

August 31, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 29, 2023

Last Verified

August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Autism Spectrum Disorder

Clinical Trials on intermittent theta burst stimulation

3
Subscribe