Deep Brain Stimulation for Severe Self-Injurious Behaviour in Children

Inclusion Criteria: * 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. Exclusion Criteria: * Substance dependence or abuse in the last 6 months, excluding caffeine and nicotine. * Any contraindication to MRI scanning. * Presence of cardiac arrhythmias, or other cardiac, respiratory, renal or endocrine conditions that may incur significant risk from a surgical procedure. * Pregnancy.