An observational study in Autism Spectrum Disorder, sponsored by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in Taiwan. Open to participants aged 13 Years to 45 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-06-24.
Sponsored by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital · Observational
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents unique challenges, particularly in sleep, mood, and quality of life for adolescents and adults. Due to the pressures of life they face, these groups may experience more severe sleep problems and emotional issue and associated issues than children. Current research on these sleep and emotional issues in older ASD individuals is limited, and there is a need for studies on various sleep and emotional problems they encounter. This study aims to compare sleep patterns in adolescents and adults with Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autism using both subjective and objective measures, such as questionnaires and polysomnography. It also examines the factors influencing sleep, including cognitive function, emotional and behavioral problems, and quality of life. Additionally, the study evaluates the reliability and validity of the Chinese Social Responsiveness Scale-Adult Version in Taiwan. The expected outcome is that sleep and emotional issues in these populations are linked to anxiety, depression, poorer functioning, and lower quality of life.
A.Background Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by core symptoms such as social communication difficulties and repetitive behaviors. Considering the challenges of employment and social environments for adult and adolescents with ASD, sleep problems, quality of life, and functioning may be more severely impacted in adults and adolescents than in children. However, there is few research on sleep problems in adult and adolescents with ASD, as well as a lack of studies on different types of sleep problems in adults and adolescents with ASD. Furthermore, the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) is a commonly used assessment tool for ASD, but there are currently lack of validation studies for the adult version of the scale in Taiwan, necessitating further exploration.
B.Purpose This study aims to compare sleep patterns in adults and adolescents with Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autism using subjective and objective measures such as questionnaires, actigraphy, and PSG. We also explore these factors affecting sleep and related issues including cognitive function, emotional and behavioral problems, autism symptoms, and quality of life. This research will enhance our understanding of sleep problems in Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autism, tracking the changes in sleep patterns of autism patients at different developmental stages, the relevance to quality of life and prognosis, and also evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese Social Responsiveness Scale-Adult Version.
C.Study design This study is a cross-sectional study consisting of two parts. The first part is a retrospective study that includes adolescents and adults with Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autism who underwent overnight polysomnography in the past. Their sleep studies results and questionnaires were collected. The second part is a prospective study involving outpatient adolescents and adults with Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autism who have not undergone polysomnography. After enrollment, they undergo sleep studies using subjective and objective measurements including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), actigraphy, and polysomnography. They also complete questionnaires such as the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for assessing emotional and behavioral problems, the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), the Chinese version of the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham IV Scale (SNAP-IV), and the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) for assessing autism-related symptoms. Additionally, anxiety and depression symptoms are assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), respectively. The SF-36 Health Survey is used to evaluate quality of life. Correlation analyses are conducted, and comparisons are made with a control group of typically developing adults and adolescents.
D.Predicted results This study aim to predict that sleep patterns in adolescents and adults with autism are associated with depression, anxiety, poorer functioning, lower quality of life, autism symptoms, and poorer prognosis. Considering the increased stress of work and workplace adaptation difficulties in adults and adolescents, they are expected to experience more sleep problems compared to typically developing adults. Additionally, adults and adolescents with Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autism are likely to exhibit different sleep patterns. Furthermore, additional analysis could be conducted on the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Social Responsiveness Scale for adults. The results could then be applied to adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Taiwan.
1,727 studies on the registry are indexed under Autism Spectrum Disorder; 504 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 166 is above the median of 102 across 321 observational studies indexed under Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Browse Autism Spectrum Disorder studies →Chang Gung Memorial Hospital is the lead sponsor of 1,064 studies on the registry; 235 are open to participants now.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by core symptoms such as social communication difficulties and repetitive behaviors.
Exclusion Criteria:
Actigraphy
Using actigraphy to assess the differences in sleep patterns between individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and typically developing controls.
Time frame: 7 days
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Jul 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Chang Gung Memorial Hospital