Propranolol for Challenging Behaviors in Autism

Phase 2

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Developmental Disability; Aggression; Self-Injurious Behavior; Challenging Behavior
• Interventions: Drug: Propranolol

• Registration Number: NCT04047355
• Lead Sponsor: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Brief Summary

Severe challenging behaviors such as aggression and self-injury can cause significant morbidity and decrease the quality of life for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). There are only two medications (Risperdal and Abilify) rigorously studied and FDA-approved for the treatment of irritability in individuals with ASD. These medications are not always successful and have many short and long-term side effects. Well-designed studies demonstrating efficacy and safety of alternative medication treatment choices are needed. There is preliminary evidence that high-dose propranolol can be effective in individuals with ASD who display severe aggression and have not responded to antipsychotics or mood stabilizers. Concerns regarding the safety of high dose propranolol have limited its clinical application. Well-designed clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy and safety of high dose propranolol will have significant effects on clinical practice and improve the physical and behavioral quality of life for an underserved subset of individuals with ASD.

This study will pilot the safety and efficacy of high dose propranolol. The investigators will randomly assign participants to either propranolol or to placebo later crossing each participant over to the other group. As propranolol can cause changes in blood pressure and heart function, each participant will complete initial comprehensive testing to monitor cardiac safety throughout the study. The investigators will be utilizing telemedicine and computer based telemetry to minimize the burden of office visits on the individual and family.

Detailed Description

This is a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled crossover study. A complete cardiac exam will be conducted by the pediatric cardiology team at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. All participants will remain on their existing, pre-study medication throughout all phases of the study.

Once admitted to the study, a baseline period will begin. During the baseline period, cognitive and adaptive information will be collected. The participant will then be randomly assigned to propranolol (Phase A) or placebo (Phase B). The titration schedule will be flexible and the dose can be held steady for an extended period. Dose reduction to manage side effects are allowed at any time. Each week the family will complete behavioral forms online and meet with the study psychiatrist via telemedicine. Following the initial Phase (A or B), participants will undergo a washout period (whether propranolol or placebo). Then, they will crossover to the other Phase (A or B). Upon completion of the crossover phase, the study blind will be broken. The participant will then continue in the open label phase.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2019-07-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-08-05
• Study First Posted: 2019-08-06
• Study Start: 2021-01-01
• Status Verified: 2024-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-02-06
• Last Update Posted: 2024-02-07
• Primary Completion: 2024-12-31
• Study Completion: 2024-12-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 6

Inclusion Criteria

1. Males and females between the ages of 12-30 years and is a resident in the state of New Jersey.

2. Diagnosis of autism conducted by a clinician with confirmation using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) or the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ).

3. At least one of the following challenging behaviors.

   1. Self-injurious behaviors (e.g., hitting one's self, head banging or banging of other body parts causing some degree of tissue damage);
   2. Physical aggression towards others (e.g., hitting, kicking, pushing, or throwing objects at others);
   3. Disruptive behaviors including property destruction during anger episodes, excessive screaming which interferes with functioning; and
   4. The challenging behaviors are generally (but not necessarily exclusively) associated with a congruent affect (i.e. anger or rage when aggressing) as determined by the study psychiatrist.

4. Pharmacologic treatment with at least two psychotropic including one antipsychotic medication has yielded inadequate outcome (partial improvement on one or more medications is acceptable for the study).

5. Clinical Global Impression Severity scale score of 6 or 7.

6. Aberrant Behavior Checklist--Community Irritability scale score at or above 18.

7. Medical and cardiac clearance.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Asthma or any history of asthma or any disorder involving bronchoconstriction.
2. Cardiac Diseases in which the use of propranolol at high doses would be contraindicated.
3. Uncontrolled Seizure disorder (participant had a seizure within the past year and/or changes in seizure medication in the previous six months).
4. Diabetes or a history of ketoacidosis.
5. Any other medical disorder or medication which would contraindicate the use of propranolol.
6. History of allergy or adverse reaction to propranolol.
7. Pregnancy.
8. Medication exclusions include clonidine/guanfacine / digoxin or other medications affecting blood pressure.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Group A: Propranolol first	Propranolol	Participants randomly assigned to this group will receive Propranolol first. After the washout period, they will receive Placebo. Propranolol will be given in liquid or pill form.
Group B: Placebo first	Propranolol	Participants randomly assigned to this group will receive Placebo first. After the washout period, they will receive Propranolol. Placebo will look identical to the study drug Propranolol.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC-C)	Weekly through study completion, up to 7 months	The ABC-C is a global behavior checklist that measures drug and other treatment effects in people with developmental disabilities. It is made up of five subscales, including Irritability, Lethargy, Inappropriate Speech, Hyperactivity, and Stereotypy based on 58 items that describe various behavioral problems. The Irritability Subscale will serve as the primary dependent measure.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Questions About Behavior Function (QABF)	Weekly through study completion, up to 7 months	The QABF is an indirect assessment of behavioral function for individuals with developmental disabilities. It contains 25 items. The QABF yields five behavioral function categories: Access to Attention, Escape from Demands, Physical, Access to Tangible, and Nonsocial (i.e., sensory or automatically-maintained). Each question is scored with frequency descriptors of Never, Rarely, Some, and Often. A function is endorsed if the score for a particular function is at or above 4 points or higher.
Change in Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI)	Weekly through study completion, up to 7 months	The CGI is used by the study psychiatrist to judge the overall clinical condition relative to baseline using the same scale as the CGI-S. The study psychiatrist will rate the improvement from baseline. The CGI consists of a 7-point subjective scale assessing symptom. On this scale, scores of 1, 2, and 3 represent normal, some presence of symptoms, and mild behavior, respectively. A score of 4 represents moderate behavior. Scores of 5, 6, and 7 represent marked, severe, and among the most severe behavior, respectively.
Change in Modified Overt Aggression Scale (IBR-MOAS)	Weekly through study completion, up to 7 months	The IBR-MOAS is a questionnaire that includes 5 types of aggression (verbal aggression towards self and others, physical aggression towards objects, self, and others) with four levels of severity for each type of aggression. Only the section assessing the 5 types of aggression will be used for repeat evaluations: Verbal aggression toward others, Verbal aggression toward self, Physical aggression against other people, Physical aggression against objects, Physical aggression against self. The frequency of occurrence of each items are as follows: 0 = Never (never happens); 1 = Rarely (averages about once a year to once a month); 2 = Sometimes (averages about several times a month to several times a week); 3 = Often (averages about daily to several times a day); and U (Used to happen but not this past year).
Change in Side Effects Survey	Weekly through study completion, up to 7 months	A questionnaire for measuring patient/caregiver-reported side effects of medication. This survey does not have psychometric properties.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; 🇺🇸 New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States