A Protocol for Sedation Free MRI and PET Imaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

A Protocol for Sedation Free MRI and PET Imaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 Apr 19;: Authors: Smith CJ, Bhanot A, Norman E, Mullett JE, Bilbo SD, McDougle CJ, Zürcher NR, Hooker JM Abstract Imaging technologies such as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) present unparalleled opportunities to investigate the neural basis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, challenges such as deficits in social interaction, anxiety around new experiences, impaired language abilities, and hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli make participating in neuroimaging studies challenging for individuals with ASD. In this commentary, we describe the existent training protocols for preparing individuals with ASD for PET/MRI scans and our own experience developing a training protocol to facilitate the inclusion of low-functioning adults with ASD in PET-MRI studies. We hope to raise awareness of the need for more information exchange between research groups about lessons learned in this context in order to include the entire disease spectrum in neuroimaging studies. PMID: 31004246 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: J Autism Dev Disord Source Type: research