ack of Empathy as a Symptom in various Psychiatric Disorders

Completed

Conditions: autisme
Conduct Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
10034726

Registration Number: NL-OMON33461

Lead Sponsor: KARAKTER, kinder- en jeudpsychiatrie

Brief Summary: Not available

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Completed

Sex: Not specified

Target Recruitment: 130

Inclusion Criteria

Boys, aged 12 to 19 years, with an average intelligence (Total IQ >= 80; according to DSM-IV-TR), and with a diagnosis of Autism of Conduct Disorder. Subjects need to meet criteria according to the DISC-IV computer version. This is a structured questionnaire, which has to be filled in by parents, and which aims at psychopathology according to DSM-IV-TR criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Youth using medication which can influence facial expression (i.e., antipsychotics and certain antidepressants) and temporary discontinuation of medication is contraindicated (i.e., psychotic disorder, severe major depression) will be excluded.
Whether discontinuation is appropriate will be decided by mutual agreement with the subject, the psychiatrist treating the subject, and if necessary, parents of the subject. If so, discontinuation will last for at least 5 times half-life of the medication used, and will be continued the day after participation in the investigation.
Furthermore, youth with prominent comorbidity which could influence neurologic or neurocognitive functioning, such as:
• schizofrenia, psychotic disorder
• bipolar disorder
• substance abuse of dependency
• tics
• language disorder
• epilepsy.

Study & Design

Study Type: Observational non invasive

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>Facial EMG<br /><br>Hart rate and skin conductance<br /><br>Hormone levels (cortisol, testosterone, oxytocin in saliva)<br /><br>Results on neurocognitive tests, focusing on empathy, Theory of Mind, facial<br /><br>recognition</p><br>

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>Psychopathic traits<br /><br>Perception, attention and concentration<br /><br>Executive functioning<br /><br>Mood and anxiety<br /><br>Self-report on empathy<br /><br>Eye-movement (eye-tracker)</p><br>