Children's Bipolar Network Treatment Trial I

NCT ID: NCT05427123

Last Updated: 2025-04-01

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

RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

80 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-07-01

Study Completion Date

2027-07-01

Brief Summary

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This is a naturalistic treatment and follow-up study of youth with bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs) across four US sites of The Childhood Bipolar Network (CBN). CBN sites have expertise in diagnosing, assessing, and treating BSDs in youth. The primary aims of this study are to (1) identify and reliably diagnose youth (ages 9 to 19 yrs) with full bipolar disorder (BD) and BSDs, and (2) examine predictors (e.g., mood instability, inflammatory marker C-reactive protein) of clinical outcome over a 12 month period. Participating youth will initially complete a screening that includes a structured diagnostic interview and a baseline blood draw to measure inflammatory processes. Youth with BSD and parents (80 families) will be asked to participate in multiple follow up research visits with interviews, rating instruments, and questionnaires. Per established CBN guidelines, study psychiatrists will provide and track medication management and sites will also track psychosocial treatments. This study ultimately aims to further understanding of best practice pediatric BSD psychiatric and psychosocial treatments and development of a standardized and validated set of clinical tools for patient assessment, diagnosis, and tracking.

Detailed Description

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Study Background and Significance

Cross-site research networks for specific childhood diseases have led to important treatment advances, such as guidance of optimizing treatments for individual patients and significant reductions in childhood mortality. The Childhood Bipolar Network (CBN) is a similar type of research collaboration developed to support advancements to the understanding and treatment of pediatric bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs), starting with this first study. The study builds on recent advances in the early identification and reliable diagnosis of pediatric BSDs. It also builds on advances in treatment for youth with or at high risk for BSD, such as the finding from randomized clinical trials showing that family intervention plus pharmacotherapy is consistently associated with superior symptomatic, suicidal, and functional outcomes compared with either usual care or supportive therapy plus pharmacotherapy.

Specific Aims of the Study

The aims of the first study with 80 youth are to (1) identify and reliably diagnose diverse youth (9 to 19 yrs) with BSD I, II, and Other Specified Bipolar Disorder (OSBD, formerly called Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) across collaborative clinics in the US; and (2) examine predictors of 1-year treatment response in youth with BSDs, using treatment methods and instrumentation harmonized across four sites. This study will examine mood instability and an inflammatory marker based on a blood test (C-reactive protein) as primary predictors of outcomes.

Study phases and outcomes include: I. Recruitment and screening, II. Intake (blood draw, medical history, structured diagnostic interview, youth mood symptom and instability measures, youth and family functioning measures), III. Weekly parent online reporting on youth symptoms and functioning, IV. Follow-up at 6 and 12 months for repeated measures and relevant updates.

Study milestones will include cross-site harmonization of assessment and treatment methods, validation of a mood instability phenotype, and development of an open trial infrastructure for novel treatments for youth with or at risk for BSD. The development of a standardized BSD clinical assessment and care procedure across US centers is critical to the broader effort to develop robust treatment algorithms and empirically based guidelines for use in a wide variety of national and international health care settings with culturally heterogeneous populations of youth with or at risk for BSD.

Conditions

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Bipolar Disorder Bipolar I Disorder Bipolar II Disorder Other Specified Bipolar and Related Disorder Mood Instability Child Mental Disorder Adolescent - Emotional Problem

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Youth with or at clinical high risk for Bipolar Spectrum Disorder

Youth included in the study will have a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnosis of Bipolar I or II, Cyclothymic Disorder, or Other Specified Bipolar Disorder (per Course and Outcome of Bipolar Youth study definition)

Medication or psychosocial treatment

Intervention Type OTHER

Youth included in this naturalistic study will be offered medication management from study psychiatrists. The study's Network Oversight Committee, consisting of PI psychiatrists and consultants, has created guidelines on best practice medications, dosing, and adjustments for the study. The Network Oversight Committee will also offer ongoing consultation to study psychiatrists. The treating physician will take these guidelines and recommendations under consideration but will use clinical judgment and have the final say, in consultation with the parents and child, as to what treatments are prescribed. While psychosocial interventions are of interest as a predictor of outcomes, no universal psychotherapy or other psychosocial treatment will be provided by sites. There is no limitation on participant enrollment in psychosocial treatments. Investigators and their clinical partners may offer these interventions based on clinical judgment and availability.

Interventions

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Medication or psychosocial treatment

Youth included in this naturalistic study will be offered medication management from study psychiatrists. The study's Network Oversight Committee, consisting of PI psychiatrists and consultants, has created guidelines on best practice medications, dosing, and adjustments for the study. The Network Oversight Committee will also offer ongoing consultation to study psychiatrists. The treating physician will take these guidelines and recommendations under consideration but will use clinical judgment and have the final say, in consultation with the parents and child, as to what treatments are prescribed. While psychosocial interventions are of interest as a predictor of outcomes, no universal psychotherapy or other psychosocial treatment will be provided by sites. There is no limitation on participant enrollment in psychosocial treatments. Investigators and their clinical partners may offer these interventions based on clinical judgment and availability.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Youth 9-19 years old
* Youth diagnosed with Bipolar disorder (I, II, Other Specified) or Cyclothymic Disorder by the study team during the diagnostic interview screening
* Youth is able to read and communicate in English to the degree necessary to be able to assent and participate (with help) in their treatment and assessments appropriate for ages 9 and up
* Youth has a caregiver able to participate in ongoing basis in assessment and treatment
* The participating caregiver can reliably read and communicate in English for purposes of study consenting, assessment, and treatment, unless preferred language translation services are regularly available.

Exclusion Criteria

* Youth has DSM-5 diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
* Youth has DSM-5 diagnosis of substance or alcohol abuse with impairment within 3 mos.
* Youth has a medical or psychiatric disorder that is life-threatening or requires immediate hospitalization or emergency medical or therapeutic treatment
* Evidence of recent sexual or physical abuse of the youth by legally responsible caregivers
* Evidence of recent intimate partner violence between caregivers responsible for the youth's care
Minimum Eligible Age

9 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

19 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Pittsburgh

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Virginia Commonwealth University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Colorado, Denver

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Milken Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Baszucki Brain Research Fund

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of California, Los Angeles

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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David J. Miklowitz, Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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David J Miklowitz, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of California, Los Angeles

Locations

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University of California, Los Angeles, Max Gray Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders Program (CHAMP)

Los Angeles, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center

Aurora, Colorado, United States

Site Status ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

University of Pittsburgh Child and Adolescent Bipolar Spectrum Services Clinic (CABS)

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center

Richmond, Virginia, United States

Site Status ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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David J Miklowitz, PhD

Role: CONTACT

(310) 267-2659

Danielle M Denenny, PhD

Role: CONTACT

(323) 475-8252

Facility Contacts

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David J Miklowitz, PhD

Role: primary

310-267-2659

Megan C Ichinose, PhD

Role: backup

(424) 229-1683

References

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Provided Documents

Download supplemental materials such as informed consent forms, study protocols, or participant manuals.

Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form: Youth (13-19y) and Parent Consent

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form: Child (9-12y) Assent

View Document

Related Links

Access external resources that provide additional context or updates about the study.

https://www.pediatricbipolar.pitt.edu/

Child and Adolescent Bipolar Spectrum Services (CABS) at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in Pittsburgh, PA

https://www.chrichmond.org/services/mental-health/virginia-treatment-center-for-children

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center Cameron K. Gallagher Mental Health Resource Center Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC)

https://www.coloradodepressioncenter.org/services/child-adolescent-program-family/

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center

Other Identifiers

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IRB#22-000309

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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