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Study of Neuro-Cognitive Correlates of Pediatric Anxiety Disorders

Phase 2
Recruiting
Conditions
Anxiety Disorders
Major Depressive Disorder
Interventions
Behavioral: Attention Bias Modification Training
Registration Number
NCT00018057
Lead Sponsor
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Brief Summary

Study Description:

This study examines relations between neurocognitive and clinical features of pediatric anxiety disorders. The study uses neuro-cognitive tasks, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), as well as magneto- and electro-encephalography (M/EEG). Patients will be studied over one year, before and after receiving either one of two standard-of-care treatments: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Healthy comparisons will be studied at comparable time points.

Primary Objectives:

To compare healthy youth and symptomatic, medication-free pediatric patients studied prior to receipt of treatment. The study seeks to detect relations between clinical features of anxiety disorders at baseline and a wide range of neurocognitive features associated with attention, memory, and response to motivational stimuli.

Secondary Objectives:

1. To document relations between baseline neurocognitive features and response to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or fluoxetine, as defined by the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS) and Clinical Global Improvement (CGI) Scale.

2. To document relations between post-treatment changes in neurocognitive features and anxiety symptoms on the PARS following treatment with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or fluoxetine.

3. To document relations among broad arrays of clinical, cognitive, and neural measures

Primary Endpoints:

Indices of percent-signal change in hypothesized brain regions, comprising amygdala, striatum, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) for each fMRI and MEG paradigm.

Secondary Endpoints:

1. Treatment-response as defined by a continuous measure, the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale score (PARS), and a categorial measure, the Clinical Global Improvement (CGI) score.

2. Levels of symptoms and behaviors evoked by tasks that engage attention, memory, and elicit responses to motivational stimuli.

Detailed Description

Study Description:

This study examines relations between neurocognitive and clinical features of pediatric anxiety disorders. The study uses neuro-cognitive tasks, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), as well as magneto- and electro-encephalography (M/EEG). Patients will be studied over one year, before and after receiving either one of two standard-of-care treatments: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Healthy comparisons will be studied at comparable time points.

Primary Objectives:

-To compare healthy youth and symptomatic, medication-free pediatric patients studied prior to receipt of treatment. The study seeks to detect relations between clinical features of anxiety disorders at baseline and a wide range of neurocognitive features associated with attention, memory, and response to motivational stimuli.

Secondary Objectives:

* To document relations between baseline neurocognitive features and response to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or fluoxetine, as defined by the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS) and Clinical Global Improvement (CGI) Scale.

* To document relations between post-treatment changes in neurocognitive features and anxiety symptoms on the PARS following treatment with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or fluoxetine.

* To document relations among broad arrays of clinical, cognitive, and neural measures

Primary Endpoints:

-Indices of percent-signal change in hypothesized brain regions, comprising amygdala, striatum, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) for each fMRI and MEG paradigm.

Secondary Endpoints:

* Treatment-response as defined by a continuous measure, the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale score (PARS), and a categorial measure, the Clinical Global Improvement (CGI) score.

* Levels of symptoms and behaviors evoked by tasks that engage attention, memory, and elicit responses to motivational stimuli.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
2530
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
ActiveAttention Bias Modification TrainingSubjects in both treatment arms receive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for a 12-week period. In the final eight weeks of the trial, the subjects complete either the active-intervention arm or the control invention arm. In these arms, either the active or control treatment is administered immediately before a CBT session.
ControlAttention Bias Modification TrainingSubjects in both treatment arms receive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for a 12-week period. In the final eight weeks of the trial, the subjects complete either the active-intervention arm or the control invention arm. In these arms, either the active or control treatment is administered immediately before a CBT session.
ActiveFluoxetineSubjects in both treatment arms receive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for a 12-week period. In the final eight weeks of the trial, the subjects complete either the active-intervention arm or the control invention arm. In these arms, either the active or control treatment is administered immediately before a CBT session.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS)Weekly

Clinician-rated report

Clinical Global Improvement (CGI) ScaleWeekly

Clinician-rated report

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Another secondary objective is to document relations between post-treatment changes in neurocognitive features and anxiety symptoms on the PARS following treatment with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or fluoxetine.Changes in symptoms on PARS and changes after 8-12 weeks of treatment in patients

Prior research in adults finds changes in symptoms to relate to changes in brain function. If confirmed in youth, this would provide insights on mechanisms of therapeutic change and targets for novel therapies

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

🇺🇸

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

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