An Open Label Study of Aripiprazole in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Overview
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Intervention
- aripiprazole
- Conditions
- Autistic Disorder
- Sponsor
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- Enrollment
- 30
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change From Baseline in Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability at 12 Weeks
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 12 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this open label study in children and adolescents is to examine the acute and long-term effects of aripiprazole on problem behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorders and development in areas which appear to be affected by autism spectrum disorders.
Detailed Description
The purpose of this open label study in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is to examine the acute (12 week) and long-term (1 year) effects of aripiprazole on problem behaviors associated with ASD and development in three behavioral domains which appear particularly affected by ASD. We are also examining the safety and tolerability of aripiprazole in a range of children with autism. 20 children will be enrolled in the treatment part of the study. An additional 10 children, self selected by guardian desire not to pursue pharmacological treatment, will serve as a nonrandomized control group. This group will be provided with support but not any other treatments, come in for fewer visits and will be asked not to seek pharmacologic treatment outside the study. As of January 2010, we have completed enrollment in the treatment arm. Currently, we are only looking to enroll individuals in the control arm in which participants would not take any psychiatric medication.
Investigators
Linmarie Sikich, MD
Associate Professor
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Subjects must be between 30 months and 17 years 11 months, male or female, of any ethnicity and of any cognitive level
- •Meet criteria for diagnosis of autism, Asperger's Disorder or Pervasive Developmental Order NOS (i.e. an autism spectrum disorder) based on clinical evaluation and either the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R) or the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS)
- •Have a guardian who is able and willing to give written informed consent
- •If competent, subject able and willing to give written assent for their own participation
- •If on anticonvulsants, subject have been seizure-free and on a stable anticonvulsant regimen for at least 6 months
- •Subjects may receive other nonpharmacologic treatment including dietary treatments
Exclusion Criteria
- •Diagnosis of Rett's syndrome or Child Disintegrative Disorder
- •Taken psychotropic medications other than clonidine or diphenhydramine within 2 weeks
- •Previous trial of aripiprazole
- •Pregnant or nursing
- •Epilepsy or another significant chronic medical illness
Arms & Interventions
open aripipraprazole
Openly provided, flexibly dosed aripiprazole in doses from 1mg to 30mg
Intervention: aripiprazole
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change From Baseline in Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Irritability at 12 Weeks
Time Frame: Baseline to 12 weeks
The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) is a caregiver rated questionnaire for assessing problem behaviors of children over the past week relative to typically developing children of the same age. Problem behaviors are rated on a categorical scale between 0 not at all a problem and 3 problem is severe in degree. Raters are instructed to consider both the severity and the frequency of the behavior in determining how severe a problem the behavior is. Thus, if a given behavior occurs more often than in other children of the same age and sex, scores greater than or equal to 1 are warranted. The total score can range from a minimum of 0 (no problem behaviors) to a maximum of 174, higher the number the worse the symptoms.The irritability subscale consists of 15 items with a minimal score of 0 - no irritability problems to 45 - all irritability items rated as severe. A rating of 18 or more on the irritability subscale is considered clinically significant.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change From Baseline in the Aberrant Behavior Checklist -Lethargy/Social Withdrawal Subscale at 12 Weeks(Baseline to 12 weeks)
- Clinical Global Impressions Scale - Severity Score (CGI-S)(Baseline to 12 weeks)