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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00131339

Augmenting Exposure Therapy With an N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) Agonist for Panic Disorder

This study involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and a medication called D-cycloserine (DCS), which is thought to help reduce panic symptoms more effectively by interacting with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors, facilitating many forms of learning including the extinction of fear. Participants will be randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to receive either DCS or a placebo in addition to CBT.

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Key information

Conditions

Panic Disorder Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut, United States

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About this study

This study consists of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) including exposure to physical sensations and feared situations, which have been demonstrated to be effective for many individuals with panic disorder.

All assessments and treatment sessions are free of charge. Half of the patients will be randomly assigned to receive D-cycloserine (DCS) and half wll be assigned to receive a placebo. Although DCS is used in humans to treat tuberculosis, it has not been FDA approved for this indication. Recent research in other anxiety disorders has shown that DCS plus behavior therapy is more effective than behavior therapy alone.

This treatment study had two active interventions. All patients will receive CBT and the researchers expect that everybody will improve from this treatment. However, it may be that those patients in the DCS intervention will improve somewhat more than those in the placebo intervention.

The treatment will be structured with at home practice and repeated assessments. Assessments are extremely important as they guide the treatment and provide the study investigators necessary information about the treatment. The treatment consists of 5 sessions (once a week) plus a one week post-treatment assessment and follow-up assessments at one month and six months.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Principal diagnosis of panic disorder

Exclusion criteria

  • History of psychotic disorders or bipolar disorder
  • Substance dependence
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • History of a medical condition that may increase the risks of taking the study drug

Treatment and study plan

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Behavioral

D-cycloserine

Drug

Primary outcomes

  1. significant reduction in panic symptoms after completion of treatment

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hartford Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Placebo-Controlled Evaluation of the Efficacy of D-Cycloserine for Enhancing the Effects of CBT for Panic Disorder

Important dates

Study start
2004
Study completion
2007
First posted
Aug 18, 2005
Registry last updated
Aug 26, 2009

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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