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Aripiprazole Added on for DMDD in Youths With ADHD

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT03358277
Lead Sponsor
Tri-Service General Hospital
Brief Summary

Objectives:

1. To investigate the effectiveness of adjuvant with aripiprazole to methylphenidate for disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) in youths with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

2. To investigate the neural basis of chronic irritability in youths with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

3. To compare the clinical characteristics of youths with comorbid ADHD and DMDD to youths with ADHD only

Detailed Description

Background:

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common clinical challenge and leads to severe impact and burden on both the patients and their family. Although methylphenidate (MPH) showed good efficacy in the treatment of ADHD, there is still lack of well-established pharmacological treatment for DMDD. Furthermore, little research focuses on the effect of pharmacological treatment on neural correlates of chronic irritability. Previous literature suggested the potential role of atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of DMDD. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of adjuvant of aripiprazole (APZ) to MPH in patients with comorbid ADHD and DMDD. In addition, the investigators explored the clinical manifestation and neural basis of DMDD using inventories, neuropsychological tests and neuroimaging studies.

Methods:

The investigators enrolled patients with ADHD+DMDD (n = 31) and ADHD only (n = 27). Those subjects were evaluated with inventories of emotional and behavioral problems, neuropsychological tests, as well as fMRI with challenging tests which aimed to induce frustration at baseline assessment. Then, subjects of ADHD+DMDD group received 6 weeks' combination treatment of MPH+ APZ with flexible dosage according to clinical judgment. All the initial evaluations were administered again after treatment. The comparison of clinical characteristics and neuroimaging findings between ADHD+DMDD group and ADHD only group will be conducted. In addition, the effectiveness of treatment will be analyzed. The effects of pharmacological treatment on neural correlates of chronic irritability will also be investigated.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
58
Inclusion Criteria

For subjects with comorbid ADHD and DMDD:

  • Subject meets the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD and DMDD
  • Subject is free from prior psychotropic medication for at least one year

For subjects with ADHD only :

  • Subject meets the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD and DMDD
  • Subject is free from prior psychotropic medication for at least one year
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients not willing to participate in the study after detailed explanation
  • Patients who could not follow the investigator's instructions
  • Patients with severe neurological or mental illness such as epileptic disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, mental retardation or uncontrolled suicide risk
  • Patients with severe medical illness or surgical conditions which were judged by investigators for safety concerns as inappropriate for this study, such as uncontrolled abnormal thyroid function, history of heart attack, uncontrolled hypertension.
  • Patients taking psychotropic medication within one year prior to the evaluation for entering our study
  • Patients being allergic to methylphenidate or aripiprazole
  • Female patients being pregnant, nursing, or lactating

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
ADHD+DMDD GroupMPH + APZThe subjects with comorbid ADHD and DMDD received pharmacological intervention with combination treatment of MPH+ APZ with flexible dosage according to clinical judgment for six weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) subscale scoressix weeks

The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) is a widely used caregiver report form identifying problem behavior in children. The patient is rated on 113 items scored on a 3-point Likert-type scale. CBCL consists of eight empirically-based syndrome subscales. The range of subscale scores (summed) are: Aggressive Behavior (0-36), Anxious/Depressed (0-26), Attention Problems (0-20), Rule-Breaking Behavior (0-34), Somatic Complaints (0-22), Social Problems (0-22), Thought Problems (0-30), and Withdrawn/Depressed (0-16). The higher score suggests the more severe symptoms.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Scale-version IV (SNAP-IV) total and subscale scoressix weeks

The SNAP-IV is a widely used caregiver report form identifying Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children. The patient is rated on 26 items scored on a 4-point Likert-type scale. SNAP-IV consists of three subscales: inattention (items #1-#9, range of subscale summed score 0-27), hyperactivity/ impulsivity (items #11-#18, range of subscale summed score 0-27), and symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (items #19-#26, range of subscale summed score 0-24). The higher score suggests the more severe symptoms.

Beck Youth Inventories-II subscale scoressix weeks

An self-reported inventory to evaluate children's and adolescents' emotional and social impairment. It includes five subscales: depression, anxiety, anger, disruptive behaviour, and self-concept. Each subscale consists of 20 items, and each item is scored on a 4-point Likert-type scale. The range of each subscale scores (summed) is 0-60. The higher score suggests the more severe symptoms.

Conner's Continuous Performance Testsix weeks

A task-based computerized assessment of attention problems and neurological functioning

Children Color Trail Test (CCTT)six weeks

The CCTT assesses sustained attention, sequencing, and other executive functions.

Resting state functional magnetic resonance imagingsix weeks

A method of functional brain imaging that can be used to evaluate regional interactions that occur when a subject is not performing an explicit task.

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