Effects of propranolol on conversational reciprocity in autism spectrum disorder: a pilot, double-blind, single-dose psychopharmacological challenge study

Zamzow, Rachel; Ferguson, Bradley J.; Stichter, Janine P.; Porges, Eric C.; Ragsdale, Alexandra S.; Lewis, Morgan; Beversdorf, David Q.

doi:10.1007/s00213-015-4199-0

Cited by 42 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Both were open trials without controls, and both demonstrated remission of tantrums, property destruction, and self-injurious behavior in one-half the patient samples after 6 weeks of treatment with the non-selective beta blockers propranolol or nadolol (17). These trials revealed subtler improvements in speech and social behavior in all eight subjects (18), consistent with controlled trials demonstrating improvement of word fluency (19) and conversational reciprocity (20) with propranolol in ASD. In comparison, the response of the above patient in the present case report during the first week of treatment was faster than that of the patients in these studies and at a lower dose of propranolol (40 mg per day versus at least 100 mg per day).…”

Section: Therapeutic Use Of Beta Blockers In Asdsupporting

confidence: 54%

Amelioration of Aggression and Echolalia With Propranolol in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Schelke¹

2017

AJP Residents' Journal

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Section: Therapeutic Use Of Beta Blockers In Asdsupporting

confidence: 54%

Amelioration of Aggression and Echolalia With Propranolol in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Schelke¹

2017

AJP Residents' Journal

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“…Potential discrepancies in observable behaviors that may be reported by parents versus internal feelings that can be reported by the child might contribute to differences in findings. In studies of individuals with ASD, however, use of self‐report can be challenging given that some individuals with ASD may have difficulty reporting on internal feelings and emotions [e.g., Losh & Capps, ; Zamzow et al, ]. Moreover, much of previous research has been conducted in adolescents clinicially diagnosed with an internalizing disorder [e.g., Dahl et al, ], while the current study did not compare those with or without a clinical diagnosis of anxiety or depression.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Comparing the effects of age, pubertal development, and symptom profile on cortisol rhythm in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Muscatello

Corbett

2017

Autism Research

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Previous studies in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have shown elevated evening cortisol; however, few studies have examined diurnal rhythm in adolescents with ASD. Adolescence is a time of significant physical and psychological change, and dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may put adolescents with ASD at increased risk for internalizing disorders, such as anxiety and depression. The extent to which cortisol levels are associated with age, puberty and symptom profile was examined in 113 youth (ages 7-17) with ASD and typical development. Salivary samples were collected over 3 days in the home, 4 times per day (waking, 30-min post-waking, afternoon, evening). Results showed youth with ASD had higher evening cortisol and a blunted diurnal slope relative to TD youth. Pubertal development and age were significant predictors of evening cortisol, and adolescents with ASD had higher evening cortisol levels compared to children with ASD. The study extends previous reports of elevated evening cortisol in children with ASD to reveal high levels in adolescence as well. Adolescents with ASD also show a significantly blunted diurnal slope, which may be associated with risk of internalizing symptoms. Findings suggest elevated evening cortisol persists across development in youth with ASD, thus emphasizing a need to identify potential negative effects of excess cortisol exposure on health in ASD individuals. Autism Res 2018, 11: 110-120. V C 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Lay Summary: Elevations in stress hormone, cortisol, during the evening may indicate increased stress from changes throughout the day in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study shows that age and pubertal development are also related to increases in evening cortisol, and this maladaptive elevation in cortisol in ASD is not going away with age. These cortisol elevations may also be associated with other psychological symptoms and warrant further investigation in adolescents with ASD.

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“…A few studies in high‐functioning adolescents and young adults with ASD have investigated the correlations of the eye tracking with standardized assessments of clinical dimensions. Some of these have found an association between the total fixation times in looking at the mouth and stronger language and social skills in various measures of socialization, ADOS [Klin et al, ], VABS [McPartland, Webb, Keehn, & Dawson, ; Norbury et al, ], Social Responsiveness Scale [Fujioka et al, ], and Autism Diagnostic Interview‐Revised (ADI‐R) [Zamzow et al, ]. Moreover, correlations between fixation on faces and the overall severity of autism as assessed by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale and the ADI‐R [Grynszpan & Nadel, ] have also been described.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Search of Biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorder

et al. 2018

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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) lacks validated measures of core social functions across development stages suitable for clinical trials. We assessed the concurrent validity between ASD clinical measures and putative biomarkers of core deficits, and their feasibility of implementation in human studies. Datasets from two adult ASD studies were combined (observational study [n = 19] and interventional study baseline data [n = 19]). Potential biomarkers included eye‐tracking, olfaction, and auditory and visual emotion recognition assessed via the Affective Speech Recognition test (ASR) and Reading‐the‐Mind‐in‐the‐Eyes Test (RMET). Current functioning was assessed with intelligence quotient (IQ), adaptive skill testing, and behavioral ratings. Autism severity was determined by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale‐2 and Social Communication Interaction Test (SCIT). Exploratory measures showed varying significant associations across ASD severity, adaptive skills, and behavior. Eye tracking endpoints showed little relationship to adaptive ability but correlated with severity and behavior. ASR scores significantly correlated with most adaptive behavior domains, as well as severity. Olfaction predicted visual and auditory emotion recognition. SCIT scores related moderately to multiple severity domains, and was the only measure not related with IQ. RMET accuracy was less related to ASD features. Eye tracking, SCIT, and ASR showed high test–retest reliability. We documented associations of proximal biomarkers of social functioning with multiple ASD dimensions. With the exception of SCIT, most correlations were modest, limiting utility as proxy measures of social communication. Feasibility and reliability were high for eye‐tracking, ASR, and SCIT. Overall, several novel experimental paradigms showed potential as social biomarkers or surrogate markers in ASD. Autism Research 2018, 11: 1567–1579. © 2018 The Authors. Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Lay SummaryMore accurate measurements of treatment effects are needed to help the development of new drug treatments for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This study evaluates the relationship between assessments designed to measure behaviors associated with social communication and cognition in ASD with clinical and diagnostic assessments of symptom severity as well as their implementation. The assessments including eye‐tracking, auditory and visual social stimuli recognition, and olfaction identification showed potential for use in the evaluation of treatments for social difficulties in ASD.

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Effects of propranolol on conversational reciprocity in autism spectrum disorder: a pilot, double-blind, single-dose psychopharmacological challenge study

Abstract: Acute propranolol administration improved conversational reciprocity in ASD. Further exploration of these preliminary findings, as well as other potential treatment response predictors, with serial doses is warranted.

Cited by 42 publications

References 51 publications

Amelioration of Aggression and Echolalia With Propranolol in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Amelioration of Aggression and Echolalia With Propranolol in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Comparing the effects of age, pubertal development, and symptom profile on cortisol rhythm in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

In Search of Biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorder

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