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Clozapine vs. Placebo in Treatment-Refractory Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Bipolar Disorder
Registration Number
NCT00036582
Lead Sponsor
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of clozapine in children and adolescents with treatment resistant bipolar disorder. This study will also explore how the brain functions in early-onset bipolar disorder.

Detailed Description

Bipolar disorder (BPD) in children and adolescents is a serious illness that carries a high risk for chronicity, impairing comorbidities, and completed suicide. Treatment options are often limited by inefficacy or intolerable side effects. Open trials in adult bipolar subjects and several case series in children and adolescents provide preliminary evidence that clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic, may be effective in treatment-resistant bipolar disorder. The first specific aim of this study is to test the efficacy and safety of clozapine compared to placebo in a double-blind study of children and adolescents with treatment refractory BPD. Other specific aims involve exploring the pathophysiology of early-onset BPD by 1) testing the hypotheses that, compared to controls, children with BPD have increased psychophysiological reactivity to emotional stimuli and decreased prepulse inhibition; 2) obtaining samples of genetic material from affected probands and their parents for later analysis; and 3) identifying anatomic changes in the brains of children with BPD using structural MRI.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
116
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

🇺🇸

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

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