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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00870727

Study of Aripiprazole in the Treatment of Pervasive Developmental Disorders

The purpose of this study is to develop a better tolerated and more effective pharmacologic treatment with individuals with Pervasive Developmental Disorder. This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of aripiprazole in the management of the maladaptive behaviors of Pervasive Developmental Disorder. The investigators hypothesize that aripiprazole will be more effective than placebo for reducing aggression, tantrum and self-injurious behavior in children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

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Key information

Conditions

Pervasive Developmental Disorder Child Development Disorders, Pervasive Mental Disorders Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Age range

5 year–17 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

Riley Hospital for Children, Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States

About this study

Pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) are characterized by severe impairments in social interaction and communication in addition to restricted patterns of interests and activities. Research suggests that a dysregulation of the dopamine and serotonin systems contributes to these interfering behaviors in individuals with PDD. After benefits of typical neuroleptics were reported in subjects with PDD, research shifted to the atypical antipsychotics which have been shown to be better tolerated and effective in this population. However, the atypical antipsychotics have also been associated with adverse effects. Thus there remains a need for a novel pharmacotherapy that would be safe and effective for children and adolescents with PDDs. The primary objectives of this study are to determine whether aripiprazole is effective and well tolerated for irritability in children and adolescents with PDD not otherwise specified (NOS) during an 8-week acute phase and whether the effectiveness and tolerability of aripiprazole is maintained during a 16-week continuation phase.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Male and female outpatients between the ages of 5 and 17 years and greater than or equal to 15 kg body weight.
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition, Text Revised (DSM-IV-TR) diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD NOS).
  • Psychotropic medication-free for at least 2 days prior to screening laboratory tests and electrocardiogram (ECG).
  • Significant irritability as determined by a Clinical Global Impression Severity score of greater or equal to 4 (Moderately ill) and a score of equal to or greater than 18 on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist Irritability Subscale.
  • Intelligence quotient (IQ) of equal to or greater than 50 based on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), 4th edition; the Leiter International Test of Intelligence-Revised will be used if a child is nonverbal but thought to have an IQ greater than or equal to 50.

Exclusion criteria

  • DSM-IV-TR diagnosis other than PDD NOS (autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, Rett's disorder, or childhood disintegrative disorder), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or substance abuse within the last 6 months.
  • Comorbid disorder with possible association to autism (e.g., Fragile X Syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis).
  • A significant medical condition such as heart, liver, renal, or pulmonary disease, or a seizure disorder, as determined by history, physical examination, or laboratory testing.
  • Subjects with an active seizure disorder (history of febrile seizures in early childhood will be considered.
  • Females with a positive urine pregnancy test.
  • Evidence of a prior adequate trial of aripiprazole (defined as equal to or greater than 2 weeks at equal to or greater than 5 mg per day. When there is not evidence of a prior adequate trial, subjects must be medication-free for a least 2 weeks prior to baseline.
  • History of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
  • Subjects who, in the opinion of the investigator, are unsuitable in any other way to participate in this study, including being unable to comply with the requirements of the study for any reason.
  • Hypersensitivity to aripiprazole [e.g., allergic response or serious adverse effect] (significant tachycardia).

Treatment and study plan

Aripiprazole oral product

Drug

Minimum dose of 2 mg per day to a maximum dose of 20 mg per day over 8-weeks of treatment.

Other names: Abilify

Placebo oral capsule

Drug

Placebo will be identical in size and appearance to study drug.

Other names: Sugar pill

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants Improved as Measured by the Clinical Global Impression-Global Improvement Scale (Improvement Defined as CGI-I=1 or CGI-I=2)

    Time frame: Double-blind phase study exit - up to 8 weeks

    Clinical Global Impressions (Guy, 1976) global improvement (CGI-I) is designed to take into account all factors to arrive at an assessment of response to treatment. The CGI-I scale ranges from 1 to 7, with lower scores indicating greater improvement (1=very much improved and 2=much improved). Participants with a CGI-I score of 1 or 2 were classified as improved. Four participants assigned to placebo completed an exit interview prior to week 8. One participant assigned to placebo and one participant assigned to aripiprazole withdrew from the study without completing an exit interview.

  2. Mean Post-baseline Aberrant Behavior Checklist Irritability Subscale Score, Parent Report, Double-blind Phase

    Time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8

    The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) is a symptom checklist for assessing problem behaviors in individuals ages 6 to 54 years-old with mental retardation. The full ABC is a 58-item parent rating with five factors: Irritability, Social Withdrawal, Stereotypy, Hyperactivity and Inappropriate Speech. It has been used as a primary outcome measure in several trials in children with developmental disabilities. The interpretation of the tool and its subscales is that a greater number of items indicates greater severity. The range of scores for the Irritability subscale is 0 to 45. Means were estimated using a repeated measures linear regression model with treatment group, baseline score, study week (in categories), and Tanner stage as covariates. A linear contrast estimated the average across study timepoints. Confidence intervals reflect a Bonferroni multiple testing correction accounting for the selection of two primary outcomes.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mean Post-baseline Aberrant Behavior Checklist Hyperactivity Subscale Score, Parent Report, Double-blind Phase

    Time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8

    The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) is a symptom checklist for assessing problem behaviors in individuals ages 6 to 54 years-old with mental retardation. The full ABC is a 58-item parent rating with five factors: Irritability, Social Withdrawal, Stereotypy, Hyperactivity and Inappropriate Speech. The 16-item Hyperactivity subscale covers overactivity (7 items), impulsiveness (2 items), inattention (3 items) and noncompliance (4 items). It has been used as a primary outcome measure in several trials in children with developmental disabilities. The interpretation of the tool and its subscales is that a greater number of items indicates greater severity. The range of scores is 0 to 48 on the Hyperactivity subscale. Means were estimated using a repeated measures linear regression model with treatment group, baseline score, study week (in categories), and Tanner stage as covariates. A linear contrast estimated the average across study timepoints.

  2. Mean Post-baseline Aberrant Behavior Checklist Inappropriate Speech Subscale Score, Parent Report, Double-blind Phase

    Time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8

    The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) is a symptom checklist for assessing problem behaviors in individuals ages 6 to 54 years-old with mental retardation. The full ABC is a 58-item parent rating with five factors: Irritability, Social Withdrawal, Stereotypy, Hyperactivity and Inappropriate Speech. It has been used as a primary outcome measure in several trials in children with developmental disabilities. The interpretation of the tool and its subscales is that a greater number of items indicates greater severity. The range of scores for the Inappropriate Speech subscale is 0 to 12. Means were estimated using a repeated measures linear regression model with treatment group, baseline score, study week (in categories), and Tanner stage as covariates. A linear contrast estimated the average across study timepoints.

  3. Mean Post-baseline Aberrant Behavior Checklist Social Withdrawal Subscale Score, Parent Report, Double-blind Phase

    Time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8

    The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) is a symptom checklist for assessing problem behaviors in individuals ages 6 to 54 years-old with mental retardation. The full ABC is a 58-item Parent rating with five factors: Irritability, Social Withdrawal, Stereotypy, Hyperactivity and Inappropriate Speech. It has been used as a primary outcome measure in several trials in children with developmental disabilities. The interpretation of the tool and its subscales is that a greater number of items indicates greater severity. The range of scores for the Social Withdrawal subscale is 0 to 48. Means were estimated using a repeated measures linear regression model with treatment group, baseline score, study week (in categories), and Tanner stage as covariates. A linear contrast estimated the average across study timepoints.

  4. Mean Post-baseline Aberrant Behavior Checklist Stereotypy Subscale Score, Parent Report, Double-blind Phase

    Time frame: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8

    The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) is a symptom checklist for assessing problem behaviors in individuals ages 6 to 54 years-old with mental retardation. The full ABC is a 58-item parent rating with five factors: Irritability, Social Withdrawal, Stereotypy, Hyperactivity and Inappropriate Speech. It has been used as a primary outcome measure in several trials in children with developmental disabilities. The interpretation of the tool and its subscales is that a greater number of items indicates greater severity. The range of scores for the Stereotypy subscale is 0 to 21. Means were estimated using a repeated measures linear regression model with treatment group, baseline score, study week (in categories), and Tanner stage as covariates. A linear contrast estimated the average across study timepoints.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Indiana University

Other

Collaborators

  • Bristol-Myers Squibb
  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Registry information

Official study title

Pharmacotherapy of Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Important dates

Study start
2009
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Mar 27, 2009
Registry last updated
Jan 2, 2019

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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