A Pilot Study of Buspirone for the Treatment of Anxiety in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders

NCT ID: NCT03432065

Last Updated: 2024-09-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: WITHDRAWN
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-12-31
• Study Completion Date: 2025-08-31

Brief Summary

The main objective of this exploratory 8-week pilot study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of buspirone for the treatment of anxiety in youth (ages 6-17 years) with autism spectrum disorders. The study results will be used to generate hypotheses for a larger randomized-controlled trial with explicit hypotheses and sufficient statistical power.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Anxiety

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Buspirone

Buspirone tablets will be administered twice daily, and will be titrated to a maximum daily dose of 60mg for 8 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Buspirone

Intervention Type: DRUG

Children with autism spectrum disorders will receive buspirone treatment for eight weeks. Buspirone will be titrated to the maximum daily dose during the first four weeks of the trial (dose titration phase). Week 4 onwards, subjects will be maintained on maximum achieved dose until the end of the trial. During the titration phase, total dose will be increased by 10mg at each visit and by 5mg on the 4th day after each visit.

Interventions

Buspirone

Children with autism spectrum disorders will receive buspirone treatment for eight weeks. Buspirone will be titrated to the maximum daily dose during the first four weeks of the trial (dose titration phase). Week 4 onwards, subjects will be maintained on maximum achieved dose until the end of the trial. During the titration phase, total dose will be increased by 10mg at each visit and by 5mg on the 4th day after each visit.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Male or female participants between 6 and 17 years of age
• DSM-5 ASD diagnostic criteria as established by clinical diagnostic interview
• Participants with a score of ≥60 or more on the Anxiety/Depression subscale of CBCL
• Subjects can be taking psychotropic medications if they have been on the medication for at least 4 weeks prior to initiating study treatment and if they are on a stable dose, provided the medication is not listed in the Concomitant Medications section of the protocol.

Exclusion Criteria

• History of active seizure disorder (EEG suggestive of seizure activity and/or history of seizure in last 1 month)
• Subjects with a medical condition or treatment that will either jeopardize subject safety or affect the scientific merit of the study, including:
• Pregnant or nursing females
• Organic brain disorders
• Uncorrected hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
• Clinically significant abnormalities on ECG (e.g., QT prolongation, arrhythmia)
• History of renal or hepatic impairment.
• Clinically unstable psychiatric conditions or judged to be at serious suicidal risk
• Current diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
• History of substance use (except nicotine or caffeine) within past 3 months or urine drug screen positive for substances of abuse
• Current treatment with medication with primary central nervous system activity (as specified in the Concomitant Medication section of the protocol)
• A non-responder or history of intolerance to buspirone, after treatment at an adequate dose and duration as determined by the clinician
• Subjects currently taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) and/or CYP3A4 inducers or inhibitors including nefazodone, diltiazem, verapamil, erythromaycin, itraconazole, or rifampin.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 6 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 17 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Massachusetts General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Tolga A Ceranoglu

Medical doctor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Atilla Ceranoglu, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Massachusetts General Hospital

Other Identifiers

2017-P-002731

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id