Treatment of Pediatric Post-traumatic Stress Disorder With Memory Reactivation Under the Influence of Propranolol (PPP)

Treatment of Pediatric Post-traumatic Stress Disorder With Memory Reactivation Under the Influence of Propranolol: A Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial. PPP

By age 18, roughly 8% of traumatized youth have met criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, with numbers rising up to 40% in cases of sexual abuse and assault. To date there is no empirical support for the use of psychopharmacological interventions as treatment of pediatric PTSD. Trauma-focused psychotherapeutic/TFP approaches should be favored in childhood PTSD. However, when compared to active control conditions, TFP produced a mean effect size on child and adolescents population (g=0.83). Moreover, in therapies with a substantial exposure component, the intense and lengthy reexperiencing of the traumatic event results in a substantial proportion of participants dropping out.

The reactivation of a previously consolidated memory can make it labile, subsequently requiring a re-stabilization of it called reconsolidation of the memory.

Acting on these reconsolidation processes makes possible to interfere with the subsequent storage of this memory.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: PTSD
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Propranolol Oral Product; Other: memory reactivation; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

By age 18, roughly 8% of traumatized youth have met criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, with numbers rising up to 40% in cases of sexual abuse and assault. To date there is no empirical support for the use of psychopharmacological interventions as treatment of pediatric PTSD. Trauma-focused psychotherapeutic/TFP approaches should be favored in childhood PTSD. However, when compared to active control conditions, TFP produced a mean effect size on child and adolescents population (g=0.83). Moreover, in therapies with a substantial exposure component, the intense and lengthy reexperiencing of the traumatic event results in a substantial proportion of participants dropping out.

The reactivation of a previously consolidated memory can make it labile, subsequently requiring a re-stabilization of it called reconsolidation of the memory.

Acting on these reconsolidation processes makes possible to interfere with the subsequent storage of this memory.

The combination of the targeted reactivation of the traumatic memory and the intake of an agent that decreases the reconsolidation can thus disrupt the recall of unwanted memories and thus serve as a treatment for people suffering from traumatic memories, such as in PTSD.

Since stimulation of β-noradrenergic receptors facilitates the consolidation of memories as well as their re-consolidation, an antagonist of these receptors, propranolol, has generated considerable interest as a treatment to alleviate emotional and traumatic memories in individuals with PTSD.

In adults diagnosed with long-standing PTSD two 6-week, double-blind, placebocontrolled, randomised clinical trials, one in 60 subjects and the other in 67 have shown promising results. PTSD participants who actively recalled their traumatic event under the influence of propranolol once a week for up to 6 weeks showed a substantial decrease in symptom ratings compared with placebo. Thus, all of this data led the team to propose a comparable design study in children with PTSD

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 92
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Philippe Birmes, PH; Phone Number: +33 05 34 55 75 00; Email: birmes.p@chu-toulouse.fr

Study Locations

• France
  • Toulouse, France, 31059
    • Recruiting
    • Toulouse University Hospital
    • Contact: Philippe BIRMES, PH; Phone Number: +33 5 34 55 75 00; Email: birmes.p@chu-toulouse.fr
    • Principal Investigator: Philippe BIRMES, PH

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 7 years to 12 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 7-12 years
• CPTS-RI total score ≥40
• Primary diagnosis of PTSD (6 months or more after the traumatic event)
• Heart rate ≥ 55 bpm
• Systolic blood pressure ≥ 95 mm Hg
• Affiliation to a social security scheme
• Written consent signed by the parents/holders of parental authority and the investigator
• Acceptance of the protocol by the child-Child and Parents/Holders of parental authority fluent in French

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age<7 years or ≥13 years
• Children whose parents have been deprived of their authority
• Contraindication to propranolol (cardiogenic shock, sinus bradycardia, hypotension (< fifth percentile oscillometric or <2SD) (Banker et al., 2016 - see APPENDIX 1), greater than first-degree heart block, heart failure, bronchial asthma and hypersensitivity to propranolol hydrochloride)
• Concurrent medication with possible interactions with propranolol (cf 8.2)
• Concurrent psychotropic drugs that have been shown to be effective in improving symptoms of PTSD (Antidepressants, atypical antipsychotics, mood stabilizers)
• Concurrent psychotherapy (>1 structured session/month declared by the clinician who follows the child)
• Current active psychosis, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder
• Children with psoriasis
• Children with a predisposition to hypoglycemia
• Obsessive-compulsive disorders
• Bipolar Disorders
• Mental retardation,
• Traumatic brain injury (loss of consciousness > 10 minutes)
• Currently treated with a bradycardic drug
• Concurrent participation to another interventional study
• Renal or Hepatic Impairment
• Pregnancy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Propranolol; Patient will receive oral propranolol	Drug: Propranolol Oral Product; Child will receive oral propranolol (syrup). The dose of propranolol will increase gradually over the first 3 treatment sessions in order to assess tolerance.; Other Names: Propranolol; Other: memory reactivation; 90 minutes after the propranolol take, a trained psychologist will ask the child to recount his trauma.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Patient will receive oral placebo	Other: memory reactivation; 90 minutes after the propranolol take, a trained psychologist will ask the child to recount his trauma.; Drug: Placebo; Child will receive oral placebo (syrup). The dose of placebo will increase gradually over the first 3 treatment sessions in order to match propranolol intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index/CPTS-RI	The main evaluation criterion will be the difference between the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index/CPTS-RI total score administered at week 8 and week 0. The CPTS-RI is a scale comprised of 20 Likert-type items, intended for children from 6 to 16 years, which evaluates the symptoms of PTSD after exposure to various traumatic events. Each item frequency is rated on a 5-point scale, from never (=0) to almost always (=4). The global score consists of the sum of the 20 items and ranges from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating higher PTSD symptom severity. The time required for completion of the scale is 15-20 min. A total score of 12-24 is associated with a mild level of PTSD, from 25-39 with a moderate level, from 40-59 with a severe level, and ≥60 with a very severe level.	week 8

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction - Week 32 Index/CPTS-RI	The difference between the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index/CPTS-RI total score at week 32 and week 8 . The CPTS-RI is a scale comprised of 20 Likert-type items, intended for children from 6 to 16 years, which evaluates the symptoms of PTSD after exposure to various traumatic events. Each item frequency is rated on a 5-point scale, from never (=0) to almost always (=4). The global score consists of the sum of the 20 items and ranges from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating higher PTSD symptom severity. The time required for completion of the scale is 15-20 min. A total score of 12-24 is associated with a mild level of PTSD, from 25-39 with a moderate level, from 40-59 with a severe level, and ≥60 with a very severe level.	week 32
Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction - Week 60 Index/CPTS-RI	The difference between the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index/CPTS-RI total score administered at week 60 and week 8. The CPTS-RI is a scale comprised of 20 Likert-type items, intended for children from 6 to 16 years, which evaluates the symptoms of PTSD after exposure to various traumatic events. Each item frequency is rated on a 5-point scale, from never (=0) to almost always (=4). The global score consists of the sum of the 20 items and ranges from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating higher PTSD symptom severity. The time required for completion of the scale is 15-20 min. A total score of 12-24 is associated with a mild level of PTSD, from 25-39 with a moderate level, from 40-59 with a severe level, and ≥60 with a very severe level.	week 60
Child PTSD Checklist-Child version/CPC-C total score	The difference between the Child PTSD Checklist-Child version/CPC-C total score administered at week 8 and week 0 on items 14-34. The CPC-C includes a traumatic events page, 21 PTSD symptoms and 6 items of functional impairment. It is free in the public domain. For scoring the CPC-C 7-18 years (Version May 23, 2014.), the Traumatic Events page (items 1-13) is important to include before administering the symptom portion. Items 14-34 are PTSD symptom items.	Week 8
Child PTSD Checklist-Child version/CPC-C total score - Week 32	The difference between the Child PTSD Checklist-Child version/CPC-C total score administered at week 8 and week 32 on items 14-34. The CPC-C includes a traumatic events page, 21 PTSD symptoms and 6 items of functional impairment. It is free in the public domain. For scoring the CPC-C 7-18 years (Version May 23, 2014.), the Traumatic Events page (items 1-13) is important to include before administering the symptom portion. Items 14-34 are PTSD symptom items.	Week 32
Child PTSD Checklist-Child version/CPC-C total score - Week 60	The difference between the Child PTSD Checklist-Child version/CPC-C total score administered at week 8 and week 60 on items 14-34. The CPC-C includes a traumatic events page, 21 PTSD symptoms and 6 items of functional impairment. It is free in the public domain. For scoring the CPC-C 7-18 years (Version May 23, 2014.), the Traumatic Events page (items 1-13) is important to include before administering the symptom portion. Items 14-34 are PTSD symptom items.	Week 60
Child PTSD Checklist-Parent version/CPC-P total score - Week 32	The difference between the Child PTSD Checklist-Parent version/CPC-P total score administered at week 8 and week 32 on items 14-34 (PTSD symptom items). The CPC-P includes a traumatic events page, 21 PTSD symptoms and 6 items of functional impairment. It is free in the public domain. For scoring the CPC-P, 7-18 years (Version May 23, 2014.), the Traumatic Events page (items 1-13) is important to include before administering the symptom portion. Items 14-34 are PTSD symptom items.	Week 32
Child PTSD Checklist-Parent version/CPC-P total score - Week 60	The difference between the Child PTSD Checklist-Parent version/CPC-P total score administered at week 8 and week 60 on items 14-34 (PTSD symptom items). The CPC-P includes a traumatic events page, 21 PTSD symptoms and 6 items of functional impairment. It is free in the public domain. For scoring the CPC-P, 7-18 years (Version May 23, 2014.), the Traumatic Events page (items 1-13) is important to include before administering the symptom portion. Items 14-34 are PTSD symptom items.	Week 60
Child PTSD Checklist-Parent version/CPC-P total score	The difference between the Child PTSD Checklist-Parent version/CPC-P total score administered at week 8 and week 0 on items 14-34 (PTSD symptom items). The CPC-P includes a traumatic events page, 21 PTSD symptoms and 6 items of functional impairment. It is free in the public domain. For scoring the CPC-P, 7-18 years (Version May 23, 2014.), the Traumatic Events page (items 1-13) is important to include before administering the symptom portion. Items 14-34 are PTSD symptom items.	Week 8
Kiddie-SADS-Present and Lifetime Version DSM-5/K-SADS-PL-DSM5	The percentage of children without a current diagnosis of PTSD assessing with Kiddie-SADS-Present and Lifetime Version DSM-5/K-SADS-PL-DSM5. The K-SADS-PL-DSM5 (November 2016) is a semi-structured diagnostic interview designed to collect information from the child or adolescent as well as their parents or other informants.	week 8
Current diagnosis of PTSD at Week 32	The percentage of children without a current diagnosis of PTSD assessing with Kiddie-SADS-Present and Lifetime Version DSM-5/K-SADS-PL-DSM5. The K-SADS-PL-DSM5 (November 2016) is a semi-structured diagnostic interview designed to collect information from the child or adolescent as well as their parents or other informants.	week 32
Children Depression Inventory/CDI total score	The difference between the Children Depression Inventory/CDI total score administered at week 8 and week 0. The CDI is comprised of 27 items assessing self-reported symptoms of depression in children and adolescents 7-17 years of age.	week 8
Children Depression Inventory/CDI total score - Week 32	The difference between the Children Depression Inventory/CDI total score administered at week 8 and week 32. The CDI is comprised of 27 items assessing self-reported symptoms of depression in children and adolescents 7-17 years of age.	week 32
Children Depression Inventory/CDI total score - Week 60	The difference between the Children Depression Inventory/CDI total score administered at week 8 and week 60. The CDI is comprised of 27 items assessing self-reported symptoms of depression in children and adolescents 7-17 years of age.	week 60
Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire/CSHQ Parent version total score	The difference between the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire/CSHQ Parent version total score administered at week 8 and week 0.The CSHQ was designed by clinical researchers at Brown University for children aged 4 through 12 years, to screen for the most common sleep problems in that age group.The first column 'of responses are scored: Usually=3, Sometimes=2, Rarely=1 for the entire questionnaire (except for the R=reversed items, which are considered to be "desirable" sleep behaviors, and thus scored in the opposite direction)	week 8
Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire/CSHQ Parent version total score - Week 32	The difference between the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire/CSHQ Parent version total score administered at week 8 and week 32.The CSHQ was designed by clinical researchers at Brown University for children aged 4 through 12 years, to screen for the most common sleep problems in that age group.The first column 'of responses are scored: Usually=3, Sometimes=2, Rarely=1 for the entire questionnaire (except for the R=reversed items, which are considered to be "desirable" sleep behaviors, and thus scored in the opposite direction)	week 32
Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire/CSHQ Parent version total score - Week 60	The difference between the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire/CSHQ Parent version total score administered at week 8 and week 60.The CSHQ was designed by clinical researchers at Brown University for children aged 4 through 12 years, to screen for the most common sleep problems in that age group.The first column 'of responses are scored: Usually=3, Sometimes=2, Rarely=1 for the entire questionnaire (except for the R=reversed items, which are considered to be "desirable" sleep behaviors, and thus scored in the opposite direction)	week 60
Comorbidity of other mental disorders	Using the K-SADS-PL DSM-5	week 8
Corsi Blocks task	The difference between the Corsi blocks task administered at week 0 and at week 8. The Corsi Blocks task assesses the visuospatial component of working memory but uses various cognitive processes. The subject needs to reproduce, in the same or reverse order, a sequence of pointing movements to different cubes shown by the rater	week 8
CGAS Children's Global Assessment Scale total score	The difference between the CGAS Children's Global Assessment Scale total score administered at week 8 and the score administered at week 32. The Childrens Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) is a measure developed by Schaffer and colleagues at the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University to provide a global measure of level of functioning in children and adolescents. The measure provides a single global rating only, on scale of 0-100.	week 32
CGAS Children's Global Assessment Scale total score - Week 60	The difference between the CGAS Children's Global Assessment Scale total score administered at week 8 and the score administered at week 60. The Childrens Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) is a measure developed by Schaffer and colleagues at the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University to provide a global measure of level of functioning in children and adolescents. The measure provides a single global rating only, on scale of 0-100.	week 60

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Toulouse
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Philippe Birmes, PH, Toulouse University Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Olliac B, Birmes P, Bui E, Allenou C, Brunet A, Claudet I, Sales de Gauzy J, Grandjean H, Raynaud JP. Validation of the French version of the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index: psychometric properties in French speaking school-aged children. PLoS One. 2014 Dec 2;9(12):e112603. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112603. eCollection 2014.
• Roullet P, Vaiva G, Very E, Bourcier A, Yrondi A, Dupuch L, Lamy P, Thalamas C, Jasse L, El Hage W, Birmes P. Traumatic memory reactivation with or without propranolol for PTSD and comorbid MD symptoms: a randomised clinical trial. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2021 Aug;46(9):1643-1649. doi: 10.1038/s41386-021-00984-w. Epub 2021 Feb 21.
• Birmes P, Raynaud JP, Daubisse L, Brunet A, Arbus C, Klein R, Cailhol L, Allenou C, Hazane F, Grandjean H, Schmitt L. Children's enduring PTSD symptoms are related to their family's adaptability and cohesion. Community Ment Health J. 2009 Aug;45(4):290-9. doi: 10.1007/s10597-008-9166-3. Epub 2009 Jul 21.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 21, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 21, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): August 2, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 28, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 25, 2023
• Last Verified: August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: PTSD; pediatric; Propranolol; Post-traumatic stress disorder; traumatic memory reactivation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Adrenergic Antagonists; Adrenergic Agents; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; Antihypertensive Agents; Vasodilator Agents; Propranolol
• Other Study ID Numbers: RC31/18/0471; 2020-005956-39 (EudraCT Number)

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: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No