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

Phase 2

Completed

Conditions: Autism
Developmental Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Asperger Disorder

Interventions: Drug: Placebo
Drug: Riluzole

Registration Number: NCT00251303

Lead Sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Brief 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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 78

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
placebo	Placebo	Placebo Capsules designed to mimic active drug capsules
riluzole	Riluzole	Active drug put into 10-mg capsule form,,prepared by Clinical Center Pharmacy. Dose up to 120 mg daily, divided. Brand name Rilutek.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale Scores (CY-BOCS)	12 weeks	CY-BOCS is a 0-40 point scale of obsessive-compulsive symptom severity, higher number indicates more severe obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Comparison of 12 weeks scores for placebo and riluzole groups.
Much/Very Much Improved on Clinical Global Impressions - Improvement Score (CGI-I)	12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures