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Adherence to Stimulant Treatment in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Patients (ASTA)

Registration Number
NCT00852059
Lead Sponsor
Prof. Huss
Brief Summary

This study determined to measure non-adherence assessed by the number of non-adherent days during the clinical trial of 100 days using the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS).

Study Design:

* prospective

* multi-centric

* open-label

* randomized

* active-controlled trial

Detailed Description

The study is designed as a prospective, multi-centric, open-label, randomized, active-controlled trial. ADHD-children and adolescents of both sexes, 6-17 of age, effectively treated with stimulants are recruited in two centres. Over a naturalistic run-in phase of four weeks adherence to medication taken before randomisation is measured. In the subsequent controlled clinical trial 50% of the participants are randomized to extended release (ER) methylphenidate (Medikinet retard®) applied with breakfast, 50% are randomized to immediate release (IR) methylphenidate (Medikinet®) in the morning and 3-4 h later (clinical trial). To optimize ecological validity, no double-dummy technique is applied; the allocation to either study arm is non-blinded.

According to the power calculation 106 patients will be randomized. The total duration of the study is 18 months. Starting with a run-in visit, each eligible patient is observed in the naturalistic run-in phase for four weeks. Subsequently, patients participate 100 days in the clinical trial starting with a baseline visit, an in between-visit and a final visit. Medical care is provided in the routine program of both study centres. To record the adherence, medication events are counted by Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
32
Inclusion Criteria
  • Written informed consent (separately for children aged 6-11 years and 12-17 years)
  • Children and adolescents of both sexes aged 6 - 17 years
  • Confirmed diagnosis of ADHD by semi structured-clinical interview K-SADS
  • ADHDRS-IV-Parent Version (18-Item-Scale) raw score ≥ 1,5 SD above norm under non-medicated conditions (either drug holiday or prior to medication within the past 6 months)
  • Effective treatment with a stable dose of methylphenidate for at least one month (max. 60 mg/day) proved by a 25% symptom reduction in ADHD-RS under medication, compared to retrospective ADHD-RS without medication within the past 6 months.
  • Acceptance and capability to swallow capsules of product size, proved by an equally sized placebo provided by Medice®.
  • Sufficient knowledge of the German language
  • Adequate contraception in case of sexual activity
Exclusion Criteria
  • Contraindications against methylphenidate
  • Previous stable methylphenidate intake more than twice daily
  • All severe psychiatric disorders except oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder. In order to reflect the usual co-morbid spectrum of ADHD, mild or moderate anxiety or depressive disorders are accepted in the study.
  • All severe somatic diseases as assessed by the baseline examination or medical history (including life-time history of epileptic disorders)
  • Pathological results for vital signs, blood pressure and pulse
  • Reported pathological results for ECG during the last 12 months
  • Reported pathological results for differential blood count and hepatic metabolism during the last 6 months
  • Indication for hospitalization
  • Suicidality (assessed by MADRS Item 10, Score ≥ 3)
  • IQ < 70 (clinically assessed)
  • Any psychotropic co-medication
  • Detention in an institution on official or judicial ruling
  • Unwillingness to transmit pseudonym data according to German regulations
  • Simultaneous participation in another clinical trial according to German Drug Law (AMG)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Immediate releaseImmediate release methylphenidate (Medikinet®)Treatment with immediate release (IR) methylphenidate (Medikinet®) in the morning and 3-4 h later (twice a day)
Extended releaseExtended release methylphenidate (Medikinet retard®)Treatment with extended release (ER) methylphenidate (Medikinet reatard®) applied with breakfast(once daily)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Non-adherence assessed by the number of non-adherent days during the clinical trial of 100 days using the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS)100 days
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of non-adherent days measured by pill count100 days
Time interval until a total number of 30 days of non-adherence is reached cumulatively during the clinical trial measured by MEMS100 days
Quality of life during measured by Child Health Illness Profile - Child Edition (CHIP-CE) Score100 days
The efficacy of stimulant treatment during the clinical trial measured by ADHD-Rating Scale- Parent Version Sum Score100 days

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz - Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts

🇩🇪

Mainz, Germany

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