Understanding how anxiety and ADHD affect autism spectrum disorder
Official title: Stratifying the Heterogeneity of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Impact of Co-Occurring Anxiety and ADHD
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11140296 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how conditions like anxiety and ADHD affect children with autism, so we can better understand their needs and improve how we diagnose and treat them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | June 11, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $428,838 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD101440-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11140296 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, particularly those who may also experience anxiety or ADHD.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have autism spectrum disorder or who are outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the complexities of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by examining how co-occurring conditions like anxiety and ADHD influence the disorder. The study aims to identify different subgroups within ASD to improve diagnosis and treatment strategies. Using a combination of parent reports, observational assessments, and neurophysiological measures, researchers will analyze children with ASD alone and those with additional anxiety or ADHD. This approach seeks to uncover unique and combined effects of these conditions on behavior and brain function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more personalized and effective treatment plans for children with autism and co-occurring conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding the interplay of co-occurring conditions can significantly enhance treatment outcomes for complex disorders, suggesting this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carpenter, Kimberly L H — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Carpenter, Kimberly L H
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Anxiety Management for Young Children with Autism
A study at a major hospital will test a medication called buspirone in young children with autism to see if it helps reduce anxiety.
-
Autism and Anxiety in Teens: Using Heart Signals to Understand Feelings
A physician-researcher at a university is studying whether autonomic signals like heart rate can serve as a simple clue to anxiety in autistic teens.
-
Understanding anxiety in adolescents with autism through body responses
This study is looking at how the body's natural responses can help us understand anxiety in teenagers with autism, and it aims to find patterns that show how anxiety levels change in different situations and among different backgrounds.
-
Understanding and treating anxiety in children with autism
This study is looking at how anxiety affects kids with autism and is testing a medication called buspirone to see if it can help reduce their anxiety symptoms, all while trying to understand how their bodies respond to treatment.
-
Understanding brain signals in autism to identify biologically distinct subtypes
This study uses EEG to link how the brain processes sensory information with behavior in young children with autism and related concerns.
-
Paternal exposures and sperm epigenetics linked to autism in children
This project looks at how a father's environment and health before conception might influence autism risk in his children.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.