Trial Outcomes & Findings for An Open-Label Trial of Buspirone for the Treatment of Anxiety in Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders (NCT NCT01850355)

NCT ID: NCT01850355

Last Updated: 2025-02-25

Results Overview

The PARS is a clinician-rated scale to be used with parents and children. It consists of 57 items and has two sections: a symptom checklist (first 50 items) and severity items (last 7 items). The symptom checklist is used to determine the child's repertoire of symptoms during the past week. The 7 severity items are used to determine severity of symptoms and the PARS total score. The total score for the PARS is derived by summing the 7 severity items; total score ranges from 0 to 35, where higher scores indicate greater severity. The outcome reported reflects the change from baseline in PARS scores. When examining change from baseline, negative scores represent improvement (i.e., decrease in severity from baseline).

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

9 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline to week 8

Results posted on

2025-02-25

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Participants Ages 6-17
Participants ages 6-17 with autism spectrum disorders and anxiety enrolled to receive treatment with buspirone
Overall Study
STARTED
9
Overall Study
COMPLETED
6
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
3

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

An Open-Label Trial of Buspirone for the Treatment of Anxiety in Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Participants Ages 6-17
n=9 Participants
Participants ages 6-17 with autism spectrum disorders and anxiety enrolled to receive treatment with buspirone
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous
10.7 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.3 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
9 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline to week 8

Population: Participants who were exposed to study medication for at least two weeks. One participant was not included because they withdrew consent prior to starting treatment.

The PARS is a clinician-rated scale to be used with parents and children. It consists of 57 items and has two sections: a symptom checklist (first 50 items) and severity items (last 7 items). The symptom checklist is used to determine the child's repertoire of symptoms during the past week. The 7 severity items are used to determine severity of symptoms and the PARS total score. The total score for the PARS is derived by summing the 7 severity items; total score ranges from 0 to 35, where higher scores indicate greater severity. The outcome reported reflects the change from baseline in PARS scores. When examining change from baseline, negative scores represent improvement (i.e., decrease in severity from baseline).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Participants Ages 6-17
n=8 Participants
Participants ages 6-17 enrolled to receive buspirone treatment
Change From Baseline in Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS)
-10.3 change in scale score
Standard Deviation 6.4

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Week 8 (study endpoint)

Population: Participants who were exposed to study medication for at least two weeks. One participant was not included because they withdrew consent prior to starting treatment.

The CGI-Anxiety-I is a clinician rated measure of anxiety improvement. Improvement scores range from 1 (very much improved) to 7 (very much worse). This outcome reports the number of participants who scored ≤2 (improved or very much) at study endpoint.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Participants Ages 6-17
n=8 Participants
Participants ages 6-17 enrolled to receive buspirone treatment
Clinician-rated Clinical Global Impression-Anxiety-Improvement (CGI-Anxiety-I) Scores of Improved or Very Much Improved at Study Endpoint
4 participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Week 8 (study endpoint)

Population: Participants who were exposed to study medication for at least two weeks. One participant was not included because they withdrew consent prior to starting treatment.

Treatment responder is defined by a Clinician-rated Clinical Global Impression-Anxiety-Improvement (CGI-Anxiety-I) score ≤ 2 (improved or very much improved) and a ≥30% reduction on the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS) from baseline.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Participants Ages 6-17
n=8 Participants
Participants ages 6-17 enrolled to receive buspirone treatment
Treatment Responder
4 participants

Adverse Events

Participants Ages 6-17

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 8 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Participants Ages 6-17
n=8 participants at risk
Participants ages 6-17 enrolled to receive buspirone treatment
General disorders
Headache
37.5%
3/8 • Number of events 5 • 8 weeks (from baseline to end of study)
One participant withdrew consent prior to starting treatment and is not included in the adverse event reporting.
Psychiatric disorders
Irritability
37.5%
3/8 • Number of events 3 • 8 weeks (from baseline to end of study)
One participant withdrew consent prior to starting treatment and is not included in the adverse event reporting.
Nervous system disorders
Insomnia
25.0%
2/8 • Number of events 3 • 8 weeks (from baseline to end of study)
One participant withdrew consent prior to starting treatment and is not included in the adverse event reporting.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Nausea
12.5%
1/8 • Number of events 2 • 8 weeks (from baseline to end of study)
One participant withdrew consent prior to starting treatment and is not included in the adverse event reporting.
General disorders
Dizziness
12.5%
1/8 • Number of events 2 • 8 weeks (from baseline to end of study)
One participant withdrew consent prior to starting treatment and is not included in the adverse event reporting.
General disorders
Drowsiness
12.5%
1/8 • Number of events 2 • 8 weeks (from baseline to end of study)
One participant withdrew consent prior to starting treatment and is not included in the adverse event reporting.
General disorders
Fatigue
12.5%
1/8 • Number of events 2 • 8 weeks (from baseline to end of study)
One participant withdrew consent prior to starting treatment and is not included in the adverse event reporting.
Cardiac disorders
Palpitations
12.5%
1/8 • Number of events 1 • 8 weeks (from baseline to end of study)
One participant withdrew consent prior to starting treatment and is not included in the adverse event reporting.

Additional Information

Dr. Gagan Joshi

Massachusetts General Hospital

Phone: 617-724-1541

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place