CART ACE5 study of risperidone and repetitive behaviors in ASD

Repetitive behaviors form a core feature of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and frequently carry substantial impairment. However, our understanding of the neural basis of stereotypy and repetitive behaviors in ASD and their treatment is limited. The proposed study attempts to deepen our understanding of repetitive behaviors in ASD and its treatment by examining the changes in key neural circuits associated with risperidone treatment using functional MRI. Our pilot data suggests risperidone has powerful effects on brain activation, providing clues to the underpinnings of these ASD behavioral features and one of its mechanisms of effect. Our major Specific Aim for the project is as follows:

 Aim 1: Examine the benefits of risperidone administration on repetitive behaviors in a sample of 52 children and adolescents with ASD and high levels of repetitive behavior assigned to risperidone or placebo in a controlled trial.

By combining studies of pharmacologic treatment with established neuroimaging paradigms, we believe that our proposed investigation will shed light on the neural underpinnings of this important component of the ASD phenotype and a common element of other childhood neuropsychiatric disorders. Similarly, data from our proposed investigation should help to clarify key sites of action for targeted treatments and potentially serve to identify subgroups of individuals with ASD who are more likely to benefit from certain interventions.