Propranolol for Challenging Behaviors in Autism

A Pilot/Feasibility Study of the Use of High Dose Propranolol to Treat Severe and Chronic Challenging Behaviors in Adolescents and Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Severe challenging behaviors such as aggression and self-injury can cause significant morbidity and decrease the quality of life for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). There are only two medications (Risperdal and Abilify) rigorously studied and FDA-approved for the treatment of irritability in individuals with ASD. These medications are not always successful and have many short and long-term side effects. Well-designed studies demonstrating efficacy and safety of alternative medication treatment choices are needed. There is preliminary evidence that high-dose propranolol can be effective in individuals with ASD who display severe aggression and have not responded to antipsychotics or mood stabilizers. Concerns regarding the safety of high dose propranolol have limited its clinical application. Well-designed clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy and safety of high dose propranolol will have significant effects on clinical practice and improve the physical and behavioral quality of life for an underserved subset of individuals with ASD.

This study will pilot the safety and efficacy of high dose propranolol. The investigators will randomly assign participants to either propranolol or to placebo later crossing each participant over to the other group. As propranolol can cause changes in blood pressure and heart function, each participant will complete initial comprehensive testing to monitor cardiac safety throughout the study. The investigators will be utilizing telemedicine and computer based telemetry to minimize the burden of office visits on the individual and family.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Aggression; Self-Injurious Behavior; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Developmental Disability; Challenging Behavior
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Propranolol

Detailed Description

This is a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled crossover study. A complete cardiac exam will be conducted by the pediatric cardiology team at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. All participants will remain on their existing, pre-study medication throughout all phases of the study.

Once admitted to the study, a baseline period will begin. During the baseline period, cognitive and adaptive information will be collected. The participant will then be randomly assigned to propranolol (Phase A) or placebo (Phase B). The titration schedule will be flexible and the dose can be held steady for an extended period. Dose reduction to manage side effects are allowed at any time. Each week the family will complete behavioral forms online and meet with the study psychiatrist via telemedicine. Following the initial Phase (A or B), participants will undergo a washout period (whether propranolol or placebo). Then, they will crossover to the other Phase (A or B). Upon completion of the crossover phase, the study blind will be broken. The participants then had the option of enrolling in an open label study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 8
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New Jersey
    • New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States, 08901
      • Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 8 years to 26 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Males and females between the ages of 12-30 years and is a resident in the state of New Jersey.
2. Diagnosis of autism conducted by a clinician with confirmation using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) or the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ).

3. At least one of the following challenging behaviors.

   1. Self-injurious behaviors (e.g., hitting one's self, head banging or banging of other body parts causing some degree of tissue damage);
   2. Physical aggression towards others (e.g., hitting, kicking, pushing, or throwing objects at others);
   3. Disruptive behaviors including property destruction during anger episodes, excessive screaming which interferes with functioning; and
   4. The challenging behaviors are generally (but not necessarily exclusively) associated with a congruent affect (i.e. anger or rage when aggressing) as determined by the study psychiatrist.
4. Pharmacologic treatment with at least two psychotropic including one antipsychotic medication has yielded inadequate outcome (partial improvement on one or more medications is acceptable for the study).
5. Clinical Global Impression Severity scale score of 6 or 7.
6. Aberrant Behavior Checklist--Community Irritability scale score at or above 18.
7. Medical and cardiac clearance.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Asthma or any history of asthma or any disorder involving bronchoconstriction.
2. Cardiac Diseases in which the use of propranolol at high doses would be contraindicated.
3. Uncontrolled Seizure disorder (participant had a seizure within the past year and/or changes in seizure medication in the previous six months).
4. Diabetes or a history of ketoacidosis.
5. Any other medical disorder or medication which would contraindicate the use of propranolol.
6. History of allergy or adverse reaction to propranolol.
7. Pregnancy.
8. Medication exclusions include clonidine/guanfacine / digoxin or other medications affecting blood pressure.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group A: Propranolol first; Participants randomly assigned to this group will receive Propranolol first. After the washout period, they will receive Placebo. Propranolol will be given in liquid or pill form.	Drug: Propranolol; Propranolol is a beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and tremors. It is used after a heart attack and to prevent migraine headaches and chest pain. It is also used off-label for anxiety and PTSD.; Other Names: Inderal
Placebo Comparator: Group B: Placebo first; Participants randomly assigned to this group will receive Placebo first. After the washout period, they will receive Propranolol. Placebo will look identical to the study drug Propranolol.	Drug: Propranolol; Propranolol is a beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and tremors. It is used after a heart attack and to prevent migraine headaches and chest pain. It is also used off-label for anxiety and PTSD.; Other Names: Inderal

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Aberrant Behavior Checklist--Community (ABC-C) Irritability Subscale Scores	The Aberrant Behavior Checklist--Community (ABC-C) is a behavior checklist that measures drug and other treatment effects in people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is made up of five subscales, including Irritability, Lethargy, Inappropriate Speech, Hyperactivity, and Stereotypy based on 58 items that describe various behavioral problems. Each item is scored on a Likert scale: 1 = not at all a problem, to 3 = problem is severe in degree. The Irritability Subscale served as the primary dependent measure. The minimum score on the Irritability Subscale is 0 and the maximum score is 45. Lower scores represent better outcome.	Titration schedule varied based on individual response; it was not predetermined. On average, Placebo was 8 wks and Propranolol was 11 wks, including titration. The last Baseline score and the last scores from Placebo and Propranolol phases were analyzed.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Clinical Global Impression Improvement (CGI-I) Scale	The Clinical Global Impression Improvement (CGI-I) scale is used by the study psychiatrist to judge the overall clinical condition relative to baseline using the same scale as the CGI-S. The study psychiatrist will rate the improvement from baseline. The CGI consists of a 7-point subjective scale assessing symptom. Lower scores represent better outcomes. Scores of 1, 2, and 3 represent normal, some presence of symptoms, and mild behavior, respectively. A score of 4 represents moderate behavior. Scores of 5, 6, and 7 represent marked, severe, and among the most severe behavior, respectively.	Titration schedule varied based on individual response; it was not predetermined. On average, Placebo was 8 wks and Propranolol was 11 wks, including titration. The last Baseline score and the last scores from Placebo and Propranolol phases were analyzed.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
• Collaborators: New York State Institute for Basic Research; New Jersey Governor's Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Barbie Zimmerman-Bier, M.D., Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 11, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): September 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 12, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 5, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): August 6, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 4, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 15, 2025
• Last Verified: May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Propranolol; Beta Blocker; Psychopharmacology; Inderal
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Aberrant Motor Behavior in Dementia; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Developmental Disabilities; Autistic Disorder; Aggression; Self-Injurious Behavior; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Neurotransmitter Agents; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; Adrenergic Agents; Vasodilator Agents; Antihypertensive Agents; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Adrenergic Antagonists; Propranolol
• Other Study ID Numbers: Pro20170001942; CAUT17 APL025 (Other Grant/Funding Number: NJ Governor's Council)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No