View Clinical Trial (Medical Research Study)
Novel Pharmacological Strategies in Autism
| City: |
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Indianapolis |
| State: |
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Indiana |
| Zip Code: |
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46202 |
| Conditions: |
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Autistic Disorder |
| Purpose: |
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This study will determine the effectiveness of aripiprazole and D-Cycloserine in treating
symptoms associated with autism in children.
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| Study Summary: |
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Autism is a developmental disability that affects every child differently. A wide range of
symptoms accompany autism, including self-injurious behavior, severe aggression, and
irritability. Despite an improved ability to reduce these symptoms, existing drug treatments
continue to be associated with adverse side effects. Also, there is no existing drug
treatment that reliably improves social behavior, the core deficit in autism. Studies on
drug treatment combinations that are designed to reduce self-injurious behavior, aggression,
and irritability and improve social behavior in children with autism have yet to be
conducted. This study will address the above-mentioned limitations by evaluating
aripiprazole in reducing self-injurious behavior, aggression, and irritability and by
evaluating the addition of D-Cycloserine in improving social behavior among children with
autism.
This study will include three phases and an add-on component for some children. Participants
will be randomly assigned to receive either aripiprazole or a placebo treatment for 8 weeks.
Assessments measuring irritability, behavior, and social skills will be conducted at the end
of this first phase. Those patients who respond well to aripiprazole will continue to
receive aripiprazole treatment for another 16 weeks. This second phase will determine
whether aripiprazole is associated with long-term maintenance of symptomatic improvement in
patients who respond well to short-term treatment. Assessments will again be conducted at
the end of this 16-week period. Those patients whose symptoms have stabilized and continue
to improve while on aripiprazole will be asked to participate in the final phase of this
study. During the last phase, D-Cycloserine will be added to the treatment regimen. Patients
will take both aripiprazole and D-Cycloserine for an additional 8 weeks to determine if this
combination of drug treatments results in improved social behavior once patients' aggression
and self-injurious behavior have been stabilized with aripiprazole. At the end of this
8-week period, participants will be assessed for any changes in behavior, irritability, or
social skills. Results from this study may aid in developing safer and more effective drug
treatments for children and adolescents with autism.
Add-study: The Effects of Aripiprazole on Brain Circuitry in Children and Adolescents with
Autism
The purpose of this added phase is to conduct a double-blind, placebo-controlled fMRI study
of brain activation and connectivity patterns before and after aripiprazole treatment with
20 subjects who enter Study phase A. Children must be able to comply with the fMRI scan and
a facial affect processing task. The child must have the ability to lie still during the
scanning procedures and to comply with instructions. The aim is to determine the effects of
aripiprazole treatment on amygdalar activation in response to a negative facial emotional
task vs. a neutral (control) task. We that hypothesize that compared to placebo,
aripiprazole treatment will increase amygdalar activation in response to a negative facial
emotion task. In addition we hypothesize that increases in amygdalar activation will
positively correlate with improvement on behavioral rating scales.
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| Criteria: |
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Inclusion Criteria:
- Weight of at least 15 kg (33.75 lbs)
- Meets DSM-IV criteria for autistic disorder
- Outpatient
- Medication-free for at least 2 weeks prior to baseline for all psychotropic
medications. More information about this criterion, including exceptions, can be
found in the protocol.
- Clinical Global Impression Scale Severity score (CGI-S) of at least 4
- Irritability subscale of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) score of at least 18
- An IQ of at least 35 or a mental age of at least 18 months
- In good physical health
Exclusion Criteria:
- Meets DSM-IV criteria for Asperger's disorder, Rett's disorder, childhood
disintegrative disorder, any other pervasive developmental disorder (PDD),
schizophrenia, psychotic disorder, or bipolar disorder
- Current or past history of alcohol or other substance abuse within 6 months of study
entry
- Comorbid neurodevelopmental disorder with possible association to autism (e.g.,
fragile-X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis)
- A significant medical condition such as heart, liver, kidney, or lung disease, or a
seizure disorder
- Pregnant
- Prior adequate use of aripiprazole. More information about this criterion can be
found in the protocol.
- Evidence of hypersensitivity to aripiprazole
- History of neuroleptic malignant syndrome
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| NCT ID: |
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NCT00198107 |
| Primary Contact: |
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Principal Investigator
Christopher J. McDougle, MD
Indiana University School of Medicine
Lauren Mathieu- Frasier, MA
Phone: 317-948-9766
Email: kidpsych@iupui.edu
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| Backup Contact: |
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Email: kidpsych@iupui.edu
Jennifer E. Mullett, RN
Phone: 317-948-9766
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| Location Contact: |
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Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
United States
Arlene E. Kohn, BA
Site Status: Recruiting |
| Data Source: |
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ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Date Processed: |
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May 17, 2013 |
| Modifications to this listing: |
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