Fwd: Recruiting subjects for a new study on Medications used for ASD

[Guest guest]

Please pass on to all families. Thank you.

Regards,

Ven Sequenzia

President

Autism Society of America

State of Florida Chapter

Recruiting subjects for a new study on Medications used for ASD

A group of investigators at The Washington University are conducting a survey study on the response of individuals with ASD to various medications with the long-term goal of better matching medications to individuals based on their respective genetics or biological makeup. We are trying to recruit study participants across this country and would greatly appreciate your forwarding the information in this email to all members of your ASA chapter.

Thank you.

Hu, Ph.D.; Professor and Principal Investigator

Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The Washington University Medical Center

Washington, DC 20037

Recruiting subjects for a new study on Medications used for ASD

How effective is your medication for controlling symptoms of autism spectrum disorders?

A team of investigators, headed by Dr. Hu, at The Washington University would like to know some information related to your/your child’s medications to treat ASD.

Introduction: Many different medications are prescribed to individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) without knowing what actually causes ASD. Because many medications are prescribed based on “trial-and-error,†some people don’t experience any benefits at all which others experience a major improvement (often referred to as a “Wow! effect†by parents of children with ASD).

The study: Through participant/parent/guardian and medical doctor surveys, we are studying the effectiveness of various medications that are prescribed to improve the symptoms of ASD by analyzing the information provided on the surveys. We hope that the results of this study will be used to better design studies with subgroups of individuals with ASD based on their response to specific medications. We hope that this study will aid in identifying genes that associate with how well the medication works to improve specific symptoms of ASD. The long-range goal of these studies is to identify genetic profiles that would help clinicians to prescribe medications more accurately based on their patients’ unique biology.

Getting involved: We are asking participants with ASD or the parents/guardians of minors with ASD to complete a survey of the medication(s) they are taking and their opinion as to how effective the medication(s) has been in controlling symptoms of ASD.

We also are requesting that participants and/or parents/guardians of minors ask their medical doctor to fill out a survey to obtain a clinical perspective on the effects of the medication(s).

Finally, we are asking the person affected by ASD to complete a simple drawing task with materials supplied by us to provide information about the person’s strengths, abilities and current performance level.

For more information: Please visit our website at http://www.surveymonkey.com/GWautismstudy to obtain more information about this study as well as to access the surveys for patients/parents/guardians and http://www.surveymonkey.com/GWautismstudy-clinician for clinicians. You may also contact the Study Coordinator at autismstudy@... or at telephone number if you have any additional questions.

Attachment Note: The attached documents are the surveys in PDF format. As described on the survey website, if you prefer to print and complete a hard copy of the survey you may mail it directly to us at the address provided in the document. Please forward this email to your (or your child's) doctor if they would prefer to print and complete a hard copy of the survey.

2 of 2 File(s)

Patient or Parent-Guardian Survey.pdf

Clinician Survey.pdf