NCT02711800

The Probiotic Study: Using Bacteria to Calm Your Mind

Probiotic Treatment: The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Childhood Abdominal Pain and Anxiety

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 9 (actual)
• Sponsor: Nancy Zucker · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 9 Years – 13 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The investigators seek to conduct the first open-label trial of probiotics in young children to reduce their anxiety and abdominal pain. Likewise, the investigators aim to assess the feasibility and efficacy of this treatment and to elucidate the enteric microbiota in the middle-lower GI tract. Self-report measures and a laboratory task will be collected from children, ages 9-13 years of age, and self-report measures from their primary caregivers prior to and following a 30-day probiotic administration. Children who score above cutoff in anxiety and/or abdominal pain meet the inclusion criteria for this study. Because of limited sample size and the iterative nature of intervention development, criteria for success at the pilot phase are based primarily on clinical rather than statistical criteria. The study personnel will do their best to keep and ensure the privacy and confidentiality of our participants; however, some of the risks of this study may include psychological discomfort, legal risks, and loss of confidentially.

Conditions

• Anxiety
• Abdominal Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Lactobacillus rhamnosus	The investigators will use Culturelle®, a probiotic composed of the micro-organisms Lactobacillus GG. This formulation has been used for the treatment of gastrointestinal inflammation in numerous clinical trials. Dosing will follow the manufacturer's recommendation for children (1 capsule/packet per day), and will be monitored by the study Co-PI, Dr. Seed. Weekly side effects and clinical changes will be monitored by both study therapist and caregiver using the Children's Global Assessment Scale and the Clinical Global Impression Scale (Severity, Improvement, and Efficacy). The treatment duration is 30 days.

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-11-08
• Primary completion: 2017-09-18
• Completion: 2017-09-18
• First posted: 2016-03-17
• Last updated: 2019-01-03
• Results posted: 2019-01-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States