Geraldine Dawson
Principal Investigator
William Cleland Distinguished Professor
Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
Professor in Pediatrics
Affiliate, Duke Global Health Institute
Affiliate of the Center for Child and Family Policy

For more information

Study Details: Duke A+ Study

The Duke A+ Study, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Autism Center of Excellence Study, aims to improve screening, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of children with autism and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or both. 

The Duke A+ study includes three different research projects:

  • The A+ Health project focuses on early screening and diagnosis. 
  • The A+ Development project explores the brain basis of autism and ADHD.
  • The A+ Treatment project provides children diagnosed with both autism and ADHD behavioral intervention based on the Early Start Denver Model, at no cost.   

All children receive a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation with a clinical report.  Families are compensated for their time. 


Pro #: 00085435

Criteria: 1-10 years of age; Diagnosed with autism, ADHD, or typically developing 

Enrollment status: No longer enrolling 

Date: May 15, 2018 - May 15, 2022

 

Selected Journal Articles

Linmarie Sikich, M.D., Alexander Kolevzon, M.D., Bryan H. King, M.D., Christopher J. McDougle, M.D., Kevin B. Sanders, M.D., Soo-Jeong Kim, M.D., Marina Spanos, Ph.D., Tara Chandrasekhar, M.D., M.D. Pilar Trelles, M.D., Carol M. Rockhill, M.D., Michelle L. Palumbo, M.D., Allyson Witters Cundiff, M.D., et al. “Intranasal Oxytocin in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” N Engl J Med, Oct 14, 2021,  385:1462-1473 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2103583

Egelhard, Matthew, Samuel Berchuck, Jyotsna Garg, Shelley Rusincovitch, Geraldine Dawson, and Scott Kollins. “Patterns of Health Services Use Before Age 1 in Children Later Diagnosed With ADHD.” J Atten Disord 25, no. 12 (October 2021): 1639. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054720914352.

Franz, Lauren, Jill Howard, Marisa Viljoen, Linmarie Sikich, Tara Chandrasekhar, Scott H. Kollins, Lawrence Lee, et al. “Pragmatic adaptations of telehealth-delivered caregiver coaching for children with autism in the context of COVID-19: Perspectives from the United States and South Africa.” Autism, June 8, 2021, 13623613211022584. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211022585.

Engelhard, Matthew M., Samuel I. Berchuck, Jyotsna Garg, Ricardo Henao, Andrew Olson, Shelley Rusincovitch, Geraldine Dawson, and Scott H. Kollins. “Health system utilization before age 1 among children later diagnosed with autism or ADHD.” Sci Rep 10, no. 1 (October 19, 2020): 17677. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-74458-2.