sing d-cycloserine to increase the effects of exposure for children's general fears

Phase 4

Completed

• Conditions: Child anxiety; Mental Health - Anxiety

• Registration Number: ACTRN12611000660987
• Lead Sponsor: Macquarie University

Brief Summary

se of the partial NMDA receptor agonist d-Cycloserine (DCS) to increase extinction to feared cues among anxious adults has shown mixed, although overall positive effects. Few studies have extended this effect to youth and none have addressed young people with broad-based anxiety such as separation anxiety, social anxiety, or generalised anxiety. In the current trial 51 children and adolescents with diagnosed anxiety disorders, aged 7-14 years received four sessions of graduated, experimenter-led, in vivo exposure to a hierarchy of feared cues relevant to their primary fear. They were randomly allocated to receive either 50 mg of DCS or a matched placebo capsule in a fully double-blind design. Both groups showed large reductions across sessions in their primary fear according to both parent and child report, but there were no significant differences between conditions at any session. The results are consistent with most studies to date of DCS-augmented exposure in young people.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2011-06-29
• Study Completion: 2013-07-01
• Last Update Posted: 13 January 2020

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

DSM diagnosis of anxiety disorder
Availability of specific fear

Exclusion Criteria

Psychotic experiences
Suicidal risk
Kidney disease
Liver disease
Epilepsy
Prior allergic reaction to antibiotics

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified