Single Versus Combination Medication Treatment for Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Condition(s) targeted: Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity

Intervention: Guanfacine (Drug); Methylphenidate (MPH) (Drug); Combined methylphenidate and guanfacine (Drug)

Phase: Phase 4

Status: Recruiting

Sponsored by: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
James T. McCracken, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles
James J. McGough, MD, Study Director, Affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles

Overall contact:
Joni Zuckerbrow-Miller, Phone: 310-295-7667, Email: jzuckerbrow@mednet.ucla.edu

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a single drug versus a combination of drugs in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.

Official title: An Eight-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind Comparison of Guanfacine, Focalin XR, and the Combination, With a Twelve Month Open-Label Extension for the Treatment of ADHD in Pediatric Subjects Aged 7 to 14 Years

Study design: Treatment, Randomized, Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Placebo Control, Parallel Assignment, Efficacy Study

Primary outcome: Score on ADHD IV Rating Scale (ADHD-RS)

Secondary outcome: Score on behavioral ratings CGI-Improvement, Conners Global Index and cognitive test measures

Detailed description: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood mental disorders. Children with ADHD have impaired functioning in multiple settings, including home and school. They also have difficulty relating with peers. If left untreated, the disorder may cause adverse effects that can last into adolescence and adulthood. Stimulant medications, such as methylphenidate, are effective in reducing ADHD symptoms on a short-term basis. However, few long-term benefits in academic or general functioning from current ADHD therapies have been demonstrated. Focalin XR is a stimulant medication that is FDA-approved for treating ADHD. Guanfacine is another medication that is currently approved for the treatment of hypertension, but has long been used for treating ADHD. This study will determine the effectiveness of a combination of Focalin XR and guanfacine in enhancing cognitive functioning and improving the long-term benefit of ADHD treatment.

Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to one of three treatment regimens: Focalin XR and placebo; guanfacine and placebo; or Focalin XR and guanfacine. The study will be conducted in two phases: an 8-week double-blind treatment phase and a 12-month open-label treatment phase. In Phase I, one third of participants will receive placebo for the initial 4 weeks, followed by Focalin XR alone for the remaining 4 weeks. All other participants will receive their assigned medications for the full 8 weeks. All participants will attend two study visits prior to beginning treatment and one study visit per week throughout Phase I. At the end of Phase I, treatment assignments will be unblinded. Participants who experienced adequate improvement with their assigned treatment will then continue in Phase II on the same medication(s) for an additional 12 months. Participants will attend study visits once per month until the end of the study. Study visits will include self-report measures, clinical assessments, and cognitive testing. Participants will also undergo four electroencephalography (EEG) tests and two fMRI scans over the course of the study. All Phase II participants will receive a follow-up telephone call 1 month after the final study visit.

Minimum age: 7 Years. Maximum age: 14 Years. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

- Diagnosis of DSM-IV ADHD by K-SADS-PL and confirmed by clinical interview

- Clinical Global Impression-Severity score of at least 4 for ADHD

- Resided with primary caretaker for at least 6 months prior to study entry

Exclusion Criteria:

- History of autism, pervasive developmental disorder, chronic tic disorder, psychosis,

or bipolar disorder

- Current major depression or panic disorder

- Systolic or diastolic blood pressure at screening greater than the 95th percentile or

less than the 5th percentile for age and body mass index (BMI)

- Any medical condition that might make stimulant or alpha agonist therapy medically

inadvisable

- Need for chronic use of other medications with central nervous system effects

- Pregnant, breastfeeding, or beyond menarche and has a positive urine pregnancy test

- History of structural heart defects, syncope, or fainting while exercising

- Clinically significant cardiac abnormality as determined by echocardiogram (ECG) at

study entry

- Mental retardation as determined by clinical functional assessment and an IQ estimate

of less than 70 based on Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) subtests

Joni Zuckerbrow-Miller, Phone: 310-295-7667, Email: jzuckerbrow@mednet.ucla.edu

University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States; Recruiting
Fiona Whelan, M.S., Phone: 310-825-7874, Email: fwhelan@mednet.ucla.edu
James T. McCracken, MD, Principal Investigator
James J. McGough, MD, Sub-Investigator
Robert Bilder, Ph.D., Sub-Investigator

Starting date: January 2007
Ending date: July 2011
Last updated: October 24, 2008