CARE Study: Improving Treatment for the Most Severely Ill With Schizophrenia
Information source: University of British Columbia
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on August 20, 2015 Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Psychosis, Schizophrenia
Intervention: Risperidone (Drug)
Phase: Phase 4
Status: Completed
Sponsored by: University of British Columbia Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s): William Honer, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: University of British Columbia
Summary
This is a 9 week, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with two
parallel groups. There is also an open-label extension phase of 18 weeks. Both medications
to be used in the study, clozapine and risperidone, are fully approved for the treatment of
schizophrenia.
Clinical Details
Official title: International Study of Improving Treatment for the Most Severely Ill With Schizophrenia
Study design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double-Blind, Primary Purpose: Treatment
Primary outcome: For 100 subjects with incomplete response to adequate treatment with clozapine, the primary objective is to determine if risperidone augmentation of clozapine is superior to augmentation with placebo, using the outcome measure of total PANSS score
Secondary outcome: Additional outcome measures will be: proportion of subjects with a 20% or greater reduction in PANSS total score, CGI severity score, CGI improvement score and SOFAS score.To assess the safety of risperidone augmentation, severity of extrapyramidal side effects, metabolic measures, and general side effects will be studied. Hematological monitoring will be carried out. To determine if risperidone augmentation has effects on cognition, a neuropsychological test battery will be carried out. The predictive value of neurocognitive testing, and DNA analysis for results of risperidone augmentation will be studied.
Detailed description:
Subjects may be inpatients or outpatients. All subjects will be treated throughout the study
with clozapine, at a dose of 400 mg or more, unless limited by side effects. After
screening, subjects will be augmented with placebo for 7 days. Any subject with a reduction
in PANSS total score of 20% or greater will be discontinued from the study. Beginning on day
8, subjects will be randomized to continued augmentation of clozapine with placebo, or to
augmentation with risperidone. The initial daily dose of risperidone will be 1. 0 mg,
increased in 1. 0 mg increments to a total of 3. 0 mg/day over a two week period. Subjects
unable to tolerate at least one tablet of study medication will be dropped from the study.
At the end of 8 weeks following randomization, at the choice of the investigator, open-label
risperidone augmentation can be started.
The primary outcome measure is the PANSS total score at week 9. Subjects will be classified
as responders if the improvement in PANSS total score is 20% or greater, and the proportion
of responders in each group will be determined. Complementary outcome measures will be the
CGI severity score, CGI improvement score, and SOFAS score. Safety and tolerance will be
assessed by reports of adverse events and clinically significant changes in vital signs,
weight, waist circumference, extrapyramidal side effects, metabolic and hematological
measures.
Eligibility
Minimum age: 18 Years.
Maximum age: 65 Years.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Subjects treated with clozapine for the indication of poor response to other
antipsychotic medications.
- Treatment with clozapine is at a stable dose for at least 12 weeks. Dose must be 400
mg/day or more, unless side effects limited increase of dose.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Subjects with significant alcohol or substance abuse in the past 3 months.
- Subjects with a previous trial of risperidone augmentation of clozapine
- Subjects who are pregnant, breast-feeding, or women of child-bearing potential not
using adequate contraception
- Subjects requiring treatment with anticonvulsants.
- Subjects with known hypersensitivity or allergy to risperidone.
- Subjects with hematological or other contraindications to continued clozapine
treatment.
Locations and Contacts
UBC Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Additional Information
Starting date: June 2001
Last updated: May 5, 2006
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