NCT00251303

Riluzole to Treat Child and Adolescent Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder With or Without Autism Spectrum Disorders

An Investigation of the Efficacy in Childhood Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder of Riluzole: An Antiglutamatergic Agent

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 78 (actual)
• Sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) · NIH
• Sex: All
• Age: 7 Years – 17 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study will examine the effectiveness of riluzole for treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Youth, Including those with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Detailed description

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder characterized by the presence of intrusive and unwanted obsessional thoughts and images and of compulsive behaviors. Its presentation during childhood is similar to that seen in adulthood, except that children sometimes lack insight into the senselessness of the thoughts and behaviors. Although many patients benefit from treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a significant proportion have limited or no response to these medications. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may also be effective for OCD, alone or in combination with SSRIs, but there is a shortage of qualified therapists, and many patients and families cannot participate effectively in the therapy. There is a pressing need, then, for the development of alternative, novel treatments for pediatric OCD. Neuropsychological and neuroimaging data suggest that OCD may arise from dysfunction of orbitofronto-striato-thalamocortical circuitry. Glutamate plays a crucial role in the regulation of excitatory activity within this circuit and may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of OCD. If so, then agents which reduce glutamatergic neurotransmission may provide unique antiobsessional benefits. Riluzole is a medication that reduces glutamatergic activity. A small open-label trial suggested that it might reduce OCD severity among children and adolescents. The investigation will enroll up to 80 pediatric subjects with OCD including some who have both autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and OCD. The subjects will participate in a double-blind, placebo-controlled 12-week trial of riluzole as a sole agent or as an augmentation to their currently inadequate therapy. Following the double-blind portion of the trial, subjects may receive three months of open-label treatment with riluzole, if it is clinically indicated. All subjects will be followed at regular intervals until one year from baseline.

Conditions

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Autism
• Asperger Disorder
• Developmental Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Riluzole	Active drug put into 10-mg capsules by NIH Clinical Center Pharmacy. Matched placebo capsules were also prepared by NIH Clinical Center Pharmacy. Dose up to 120 mg daily, divided into bid dosages.
DRUG	Placebo	Capsules matched active drug in appearance.

Timeline

• Start date: 2005-08-01
• Primary completion: 2012-02-01
• Completion: 2012-02-01
• First posted: 2005-11-09
• Last updated: 2014-07-15
• Results posted: 2014-07-15

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States