Clonidine in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children

May 20, 2009 updated by: University of Cincinnati

Clonidine in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment (CAT)

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of clonidine alone or in combination with methylphenidate for children 7-12 years of age with attention-deficit, hyperactivity disorder.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This trial will compare the benefits and side effects of two medications-clonidine and methylphenidate (MPH)-used alone or in combination to treat ADHD in children. MPH is FDA-approved for the treatment of ADHD symptoms in children, and clonidine is FDA-approved for the treatment of hypertension in adults. Stimulant medications such as MPH are known to be safe and effective for the treatment of many ADHD symptoms. Such medicines, however, do not cure the condition or improve all of the symptoms of ADHD, and the long-term effectiveness of these medications is not well-known. In this study the participants will be randomly selected to receive one of four treatments: 1.) clonidine; 2.) MPH; 3.) clonidine and MPH; or 4.) a placebo (which is not an active medication, but a substance that is thought to have no biological effect). The time participation in the study is 16 weeks.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
122

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • Buffalo, New York, United States, 14214
        • SUNY Buffalo, Center For Children & Families
      • Rochester, New York, United States, 14642
        • University of Rochester, Department of Neurology
    • Ohio
      • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45229
        • Children's Hospital Medical Center
    • Pennsylvania
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
        • Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

7 years to 12 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Children aged 7 through 12 in school.
  • All subjects must meet DSM IV criteria for the diagnosis of ADHD of any subtype [21].
  • Each subject must also satisfy the following criteria regarding the severity of ADHD symptoms: 1. ADHD must be viewed as clinically significant and worthy of treatment by medications as judged by the parent and the site investigator. Operationally, medication treatment will be considered indicated for any subject who has ADHD symptoms that significantly interfere with academic or social functioning and that have not improved (or are not expected to improve) sufficiently with non-pharmacological interventions (e.g., modifying the classroom environment, tutoring). 2. The site investigator's rating of global functioning on the C-GAS must yield a score of 70 or below. Scores below 70 on the C-GAS are designated as indicating abnormal function [22]. The score of 70 corresponds to the anchor point description: "Some difficulty in a single area, but generally functioning pretty well."
  • Screen of Intelligence using the vocabulary and block design subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition indicates an estimated I.Q > 70.
  • Informed consent/assent signed. We will not enroll any child who does not want to participate.
  • The designated school for each subject agrees to participate in the study by completing all required questionnaires and following all specified procedures.
  • The child must be able to swallow the tablets and capsules used in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects with tic disorder of any type or tic symptoms, a primary diagnosis of major depression, pervasive developmental disorder, autism, any psychotic disorder, and mental retardation (based on current DSM criteria) will be excluded. We will not exclude subjects with obsessive-compulsive disorder, oppositional-defiant disorder or conduct disorder.
  • The presence of a known medical condition that would preclude the use of MPH or clonidine.
  • Known pregnancy. A urinary pregnancy test will be performed for all menstruating female subjects. Female subjects of child bearing potential will be advised not to become pregnant. In this circumstance, study medication will be tapered and discontinued and the subject will be terminated from the study. A urinary pregnancy test will be repeated at the end of the study. Subjects who request information regarding possible birth control mechanisms will be referred to their primary care physicians.
  • Known presence of impaired renal function. A routine urinalysis will be performed for each subject to exclude signs of renal failure.
  • Known active cardiovascular disease/anomaly, which would be a contraindication for the use of MPH or clonidine.
  • Subjects may not receive any other medication for the treatment of ADHD. Treatment with MPH or other stimulants must be discontinued for at least 2 weeks prior to enrollment and treatment with other medications to treat ADHD (e.g., antidepressants, clonidine) must be discontinued for at least 6 weeks prior to enrollment.
  • Subjects may not receive any other psychotropic medication (e.g., serotonin reuptake inhibitors), anxiolytics (e.g., clonazepam) or hypnotics. Any such medication must be discontinued at least 6 weeks prior to enrollment.
  • Previous use of MPH or clonidine will be permitted.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: 2
Drug: methylphenidate
MPH is FDA-approved for the treatment of ADHD symptoms in children.
Other Names:
  • MPH
Active Comparator: 1
Drug: clonidine
Clonidine is FDA-approved for the treatment of hypertension in adults.
Placebo Comparator: 4
Other: placebo
an inactive substance
Active Comparator: 3
Drug: clonidine
Clonidine is FDA-approved for the treatment of hypertension in adults.
Drug: methylphenidate
MPH is FDA-approved for the treatment of ADHD symptoms in children.
Other Names:
  • MPH

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Efficacy outcome was change in score on the Conners Abbreviated Symptom Questionnaire for Teachers (ASQ-T)
Time Frame: at 16 weeks
at 16 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
the ASQ-Parent (ASQ-P) and Child Global Assessment Scales (C-GAS). Adverse events were monitored using AE logs, the Pittsburgh Side Effects Rating Scale, vital signs and electrocardiograms
Time Frame: at 16 weeks
at 16 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Cincinnati

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Floyd R. Sallee, M.D., Ph.D., Children's Hospital & Medical Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 1, 1999

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 1, 2007

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 4, 2002

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 4, 2002

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 5, 2002

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 21, 2009

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 20, 2009

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • R01NS039087 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

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