Social cognition testing for 8–16-year-olds with autism, ADHD, or atypical development
Characterization of Social Cognition Profiles in Children and Adolescents With Neurodevelopmental Disorders: a Clinical Study Using a Multidimensional Battery
This project will test a multidimensional social-cognition battery in French-speaking 8–16-year-olds with autism, ADHD, or atypical neurodevelopment to see if it better identifies social processing differences.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 8 Years to 16 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Paris) |
| Trial ID | NCT07439276 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical project uses a multidimensional battery to measure four core domains of social cognition—emotion processing, social perception, theory of mind, and attributional style—in children and adolescents aged 8 to 16. Participants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or atypical neurodevelopment will complete standardized tests and questionnaires administered in French, with cognitive functioning confirmed by an IQ > 70. The protocol excludes children with active neurological disorders or recent medication changes and collects detailed profiles to map patterns of socio-cognitive strengths and deficits across diagnostic groups. Investigators aim to use these profiles to refine clinical characterization and identify disorder-specific therapeutic targets and assessment gaps.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Eligible patients are French-speaking children and adolescents aged 8–16 with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, or multiple complex/atypical neurodevelopmental presentations, who have an IQ above 70 and stable psychotropic medication for at least six weeks.
Not a fit: Children younger than 8 or older than 16, non–French speakers, those with IQ ≤ 70, active neurological disorders (e.g., active epilepsy), or recent changes in psychotropic medication are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from these specific assessment procedures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the battery could help clinicians detect specific social-cognitive difficulties earlier and guide more tailored interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Components of this approach (e.g., theory of mind or emotion-processing tests) have shown utility in prior pediatric research, but a single validated multidimensional battery for broad clinical use in 8–16-year-olds remains relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Children and adolescents aged 8 to 16 years * Proficiency in French (native language) * Information and consent obtained from those holding parental authority, and agreement from the child or adolescent * No recently modified (\<6 weeks) psychotropic medication from the following categories: antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, psychostimulants, mood stabilizers. * IQ above 70 (WISC-V) * Criteria for Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (according to DSM-5) * Multiple complex developmental disorder : Symptoms characteristic of a neurodevelopmental disorder without meeting all the criteria for a specific disorder and presence of multiple complex developmental disorder criteria with at least 5 elements from the specified categories. Exclusion Criteria: \- Having an active neurological disorder (e.g., active epilepsy)
Where this trial is running
Paris
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades — Paris, France (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Dorothée Leunen — Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
- Study coordinator: Dorothée Leunen
- Email: dorothee.leunen@aphp.fr
- Phone: 0171196346
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.