Study of Depakote for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia

August 10, 2006 updated by: Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

An Open-Label Prospective Study of Depakote for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia (BPSD): Use Alone and in Co-Prescription With Atypical Antipsychotic Medications

This prospective, naturalistic, open label study will test the hypothesis that Depakote is correlated with a reduction in elevated Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Index (CMAI) verbal and physical agitation and aggression scales over a 6-week period among patients with elevated scores on those scales, and that these positive results can be achieved with fewer side effects than with other agents. In addition, patients will be rated with respect to changes in the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) at baseline, week 1, 3, and 6 and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) at baseline and week 6.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This open label, naturalistic study will enroll a total of 20 patients who are being treated for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD), and who are being newly tried on Depakote in either the ER or sprinkle formulation. Patients who are suitable for study inclusion will have a score of at least 4 (out of 5, with 5 being the most severe) on at least one item (verbal agitation, physical agitation, and or aggression) of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI), short form. In this study Depakote ER will be prescribed in addition to existing pharmacotherapy; there will be no washout of co-prescribed psychotropic agents. The study will not seek to enroll equal numbers of patients on Depakote only vs. concomitant treatment. Study subjects will be recruited in multiple assisted living, nursing home and hospital sites in Massachusetts. We anticipate that they will roughly mirror the age, gender, and other demographic distribution of the larger SCU population. This will be a rolling enrollment as patients present with symptoms appropriate for this treatment. Our estimate is based on past experience with the referral rates for medication evaluation from these sites. Patients currently on atypical antipsychotics who have residual BPSD will be considered for the study, as will those on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Our logic is that as prescribed, these agents are not having the desired effect in reducing BPSD. Patients who are taking, and are appropriate to remain on, conventional antipsychotics will be excluded from the study. For each enrolled patient we will obtain baseline a psychiatric and medical assessment; results of the Mini Mental Status Evaluation (MMSE), CMAI, NPI - NH version and CGI; and a nursing staff patient status report prior to beginning psychotropic medication. These will be completed at time of study enrollment. Patients will then be followed for six weeks, with valproic acid levels drawn at weeks 1,3, and 6. Nursing staff will complete the CMAI at baseline and at weeks 1, 3, and 6. Physicians will score patients on the CGI at baseline, week 1, 3, and 6, and Clinical Raters will complete the NPI at baseline and week 6.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

20

Phase

  • Phase 1

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
    • Massachusetts
      • Hopkinton, Massachusetts, United States, 01748
        • Recruiting
        • Hearthstone at Golden Pond
        • Contact:

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

Ages Eligible for Study

58 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) dementia diagnosis
  • Age > or = 60 years
  • MMSE > 7
  • Clinical evidence of a behavioral disturbance as evidenced by nursing staff report or mean score of > 4 on at least one CMAI item
  • May be on and remain on co-prescribed psychotropic agents (e.g., antidepressants, atypical antipsychotics, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, seizure disorder that are co-morbid with dementia
  • Patients with delirium, or a poorly controlled medical illness
  • MMSE > 24
  • Lack of a significant behavioral disturbance
  • Low platelet count
  • Liver function tests (LFTs) > 2x normal
  • Currently on a Depakote formulation or prior unsuccessful trial of Depakote
  • Currently on lamotrigine (Lamictal)
  • Not currently on but intends to initiate treatment with an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor or memantine during the course of the study.

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: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Change from baseline on CMAI sub-scales
Blood levels of effective dose

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Change from baseline on CGI and NPI
Dosing information on Concomitant psychotropic medications
Adverse effects and tolerability

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

Collaborators

Abbott

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Mark Vanelli, MD, Hearthstone Alzheimer Care

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

March 1, 2004

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 12, 2005

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 12, 2005

First Posted (Estimate)

September 20, 2005

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

August 15, 2006

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 10, 2006

Last Verified

September 1, 2005

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • NEIRB05032

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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