Excessive Crying in Children With Cerebral Palsy and Communication Deficits

NCT ID: NCT04523935

Last Updated: 2021-10-28

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Total Enrollment

131 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2005-12-07

Study Completion Date

2020-08-04

Brief Summary

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Management of excessive crying in children with cerebral palsy and communication deficits \[ECCCPCD\] was guided by the associated clinical findings and investigations.

Detailed Description

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Pain treatments are frequently hit or miss, trial \& error, or because of the fear of litigations, not offered at all, particularly in cerebral palsy. Pain is an under-suspected and under-diagnosed cause of ECCCPCD. It was hypothesized that pain/discomfort was responsible for ECCCPCD, and a vicious cycle of pain-spasm-pain aggravated the pain/discomfort. So, the response of ECCCPCD to treatment guided by clinical findings \& investigations was studied.

There was an initial placebo run-in period. This study was a prospective, single-center, interventional, with initial placebo-control, double-blind for initial 110 days, open-label for the next 290 days, fixed-sequence, two treatment, two-period, crossover clinical trial. The placebo run-in period (15 days) was followed by the placebo period (15 days). After a washout period (10 days), drug treatment (360 days) was started depending on the clinical findings and investigations. The drugs used either singly or in various combinations were GABA-B agonists, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists, benzodiazepines, inhibitors of the vesicular monoamine transporter, antiepileptics, and tricyclic antidepressants. The outcome measure was total, and unexplained mean cry durations in hours per day. The cry duration was measured for one 10-day period while on placebo \[days P6-P15\], and four 10-day periods while on treatment \[T61-70, T241-250, T311-320, and T351-360\]. Total and unexplained mean cry durations in hours per day were calculated from 10-day measurements of cry durations. From the 251st day of therapy, the dose was reduced by 5% every week until \[ECCCPCD\] started to increase. This reduction of the dose was made to confirm the efficacy of drugs and to check if the dosage requirement has reduced after 250 days of treatment. This dose was maintained until the next measurement between T311 and T320. Then the dosages were adjusted as necessary. The caregivers were allowed to volunteer any additional observations of interest. Drug adverse effects were recorded.

Epidemiological data, GMFCS levels, and MAS scores were noted at the time of enrollment. Summary statistics were tabulated and plotted. Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon tests were done to study the statistical significance.

Conditions

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Cerebral Palsy Excessive Crying Pain

Keywords

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Allodynia Neuropathic pain Run-in period childhood onset dystonia drooling dysphagia hyperalgesia muscle spasticity

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

There was an initial placebo run-in period. This clinical trial was a prospective, single-center, interventional, with initial placebo-control, double-blind for initial 110 days, open-label for the next 290 days, fixed-sequence, two-treatment, two-period, crossover clinical trial. The placebo run-in period (15 days) was followed by the placebo period (15 days). After a washout period (10 days), drug treatment (360 days) was started depending on the clinical findings and investigations.
Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Outcome Assessors
The best and most reliable form of research is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study that would eliminate the power of suggestion and prevent bias when patients' outcomes are evaluated thereby improving the reliability of clinical trial results.

Our study was double-blind initially for 110 days until the 70th day of treatment (Figure. 1, Figure. 2.). The caregiver of the participant, the research nurse, and the outcome data collecting nurse were not aware of the drug or drug combination and the dosage. There was no contact between the research nurse, the pharmacist preparing the medicines, and the outcome data collecting nurse. The caregiver of the participant was unaware of other participants' details.

Later, it was an open-label study for 290 days because double blinding for the total period of 400 days may not serve any additional purpose but increases the dropout risk.

Study Groups

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Placebo-Sequence 1

The placebo contained fructose powder in packets identical to the medicines.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type OTHER

Fructose powder identical with the drugs was used

Drug-Sequence 2

GABA-B agonists, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists, inhibitors of the vesicular monoamine transporter, benzodiazepines, antiepileptics, and tricyclic antidepressants were used.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Baclofen, Diazepam, Clonazepam, Trihexyphenidyl, Tetrabenazine, Gabapentin, Topiramate, Lamotrigine, Amitriptyline.

Intervention Type DRUG

Drugs were used either singly or in combination guided by clinical findings and investigations.

Interventions

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Placebo

Fructose powder identical with the drugs was used

Intervention Type OTHER

Baclofen, Diazepam, Clonazepam, Trihexyphenidyl, Tetrabenazine, Gabapentin, Topiramate, Lamotrigine, Amitriptyline.

Drugs were used either singly or in combination guided by clinical findings and investigations.

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Fruit sugar, levulose. Baclofen(Liofen®),Diazepam,(Valium®),Clonazepam,(Klonopin®),Trihexyphenidyl(Artane®),Tetrabenazine(Xenazine®),Gabapentin(Neurontin®),Topiramate(Topamax®),Lamotrigine(Lamictal®),Amitriptyline(Elavil®)

Eligibility Criteria

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Exclusion Criteria

1. Medicines used in the study were used in the previous 30 days, and it was impossible to taper off the drugs without worsening of symptoms.
2. Excessive crying due to known causes.
3. Progressive encephalopathies.
Maximum Eligible Age

15 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Sathbhavana Brain Clinic

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Dr.Nagabhushana Rao Potharaju

Pediatric Neurologist

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Nagabhushana Rao Potharaju, BScMDDCHDM

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Sathbhavana Brain Clinic, Hyderabad, India

References

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Other Identifiers

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ECCP

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id