A Randomized Trial of Deep Brain Stimulation of the Nucleus Accumbens for Severe Self-Injurious Behaviours in Children
Deep Brain Stimulation for the Treatment of Severe Refractory Self-Injurious Behaviour in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Trial To evaluate the effectiveness of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens for the treatment of severe refractory, repetitive self-injurious behavior (SIB) in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Secondary objectives are to examine the effects of DBS on subtypes of SIB through functional analysis.
• Age 5-17 at the time of enrollment
• DSM-5 diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
• History of repetitive self-injurious behaviour, as reported by parents and documented on clinical assessment, either at the time of enrollment into the study or in prior medical records. The definition of self-injury is contextual, but requires ongoing, intermittent or continuous manifestation of self-mediated physical injury to the child.
• Foreseeable risk of serious future self-harm.
• Screening by study team for presence automatically reinforced self-injurious behaviour (ASIB) subtype 2 or subtype 3 based on caregiver history.
• Failure or non-eligibility of medical therapy with ongoing repetitive self-injurious behaviours, at 6 months or more after initiation of therapy.
• Parents or legal guardians, including caregivers, informed and able to provide written consent.
• Able to comply with all testing, follow-up visits, and study appointments and protocols for 12 months following the end of the duration of the study.