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Child & Adolescent Bipolar Disorder Brain Imaging and Treatment Study
This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC), July 2008
Sponsored by: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Information provided by: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00006177
  Purpose

The National Institute of Mental Health is seeking boys and girls ages 6 to 17 with bipolar disorder who are not doing well on their current medication(s) to participate in a research study. The study includes outpatient assessment, full or partial hospitalization, discontinuation of all current medications, fMRI scanning (a form of brain imaging), and starting new medications at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. No novel or experimental treatments are part of this study. Participants will receive a thorough clinical evaluation.

Participants must be:

In treatment for bipolar disorder with a psychiatrist who agrees that it is appropriate for the child to participate in the study

Psychiatrically unstable on current medications

Able to fill out daily self rating forms and cooperate with study procedures (includes genetics study, MRI, neuropsychological and behavioral testing, and others)


Condition
Healthy
Bipolar Disorder

MedlinePlus related topics: Bipolar Disorder Child Mental Health Mental Health
U.S. FDA Resources
Study Type: Observational
Official Title: The Phenomenology and Neurophysiology of Affective Dysregulation in Children and Adolescents With Bipolar Disorder

Further study details as provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):

Estimated Enrollment: 1172
Study Start Date: August 2000
Detailed Description:

Bipolar disorder (BPD) in children and adolescents is receiving increased research attention, but important questions remain about its phenomenology and about underlying neural mechanisms. This study has two specific aims: 1) to use longitudinal, objective techniques to characterize the clinical manifestations of early-onset bipolar illness, and to obtain genetic and family data; and 2) to identify behavioral, neuropsychological and neurophysiological correlates of affective dysregulation in bipolar children and adolescents. To accomplish Specific Aim #1, we will obtain prospective clinical data, following patients longitudinally (clinically and with structural MRI scans) for 4 years. In addition, we will assess the psychiatric status of family members, and bank genetic samples from patients and first-degree relatives for use in future studies. To accomplish Specific Aim #2, we will use standardized emotional stimuli to test the hypothesis that responses to negative emotional stimuli are more pronounced in children with BPD than in controls. In addition, we will test the hypotheses that, relative to controls and to children with other psychopathology, children with BPD have distinct deficits in reward systems and in social information processing. Finally, we hypothesize that children who are at risk for BPD will have deficits similar to those exhibited by children with BPD.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   3 Years to 17 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria
  • INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Bipolar patients: Boys and girls must be ages 6-17 and meet DSM-IV criteria for bipolar disorder. The child must have a primary caregiver who can accompany him or her on trips to NIMH, provide reliable history and information, and complete daily rating scales and sleep logs. Patients must have a psychiatrist who provides clinical care for their BPD. All youth accepted into the study must be able to complete self-rating forms and to cooperate with other study procedures. Subjects must be on a stable medication regimen for at least 14 days prior to enrollment in the study. In addition, they, their parents, and treating physician must agree to keep medications stable (with the exception of minor dosage adjustments) until the end of the second NIMH evaluation, if clinically feasible and acceptable. The total duration of the medication-stable period will be approximately six weeks.

Controls: Control subjects will be age-and sex-matched to the patients. They will have no significantly abnormal physical and neurological examinations by history, and an identified primary care physician. Both control subjects and their first-degree relatives must be free of current or past psychopathology.

Children with ADHD: Children with ADHD will be: age 7-17, currently meets DSM-IV criteria for ADHD (this will be determined by a K-SADS interview), tscore greater than 65 on the Connors Teacher and the Connors Parent scales, and in treatment for the illness with a physician. Exclusion criteria will be IQ less than 80; pregnancy; medical illness or neurological disorder other than ADHD; contraindication to discontinuing medication for 72 hours; contraindication to fMRI scanning; any other psychiatric disorder that is sufficiently severe to require specific treatment, with the exception of oppositional defiant disorder, and the learning, communication, and elimination disorders.

Children with BPD for Discontinuation of Medication with fMRI: Individuals will meet criteria for BPD, as above. The criteria for treatment failure will be: 1) the child's current CGAS score is less than or equal to 60, and 2) the child's psychiatrist agrees that a change in medication regimen is jusified clinically.

Children at Risk for BPD: Children age 3-17 with a parent or a sibling diagnosed with BPD.

Parents of healthy volunteer children: Parents, age 25-65

Adult Bipolar adults for fMRI only, or as parents of at risk children: Adult Bipolar Patients will meet inclusion criteria based on their ability to participate in fMRI scanning safely and their eligibility for protocols 80-M-0083, and for other protocols in MAP that are recruiting bipolar adults (including 02-M-0018, 37, 85, 92. 176, and others), as indicated below.

Extended Relatives of At-Risk Parents/Children: Inclusion criteria will include individuals age 7-65 who are first, second, or third degree relatives of patients with bipolar disorder or of individuals at risk for bipolar disorder.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Bipolar patients: I.Q. less than 70; autistic disorder or severe pervasive development disorder; psychosis that interferes with the child's capacity to understand and comply with study procedures; unstable medical illness (e.g. severe asthma); medical illness that could cause the symptoms of bipolar illness (e.g. multiple sclerosis, thyroid disease); pregnancy; or substance abuse within two months of the initial evaluation.

Controls: I.Q. less than 70; ongoing medical illness; neurological disorder (including seizures); pregnancy; past or present substance abuse; history of sexual abuse.

Discontinuation of Medication with fMRI: In addition to exclusion criteria for Bipolar patients, the presence of dental braces or extreme separation anxiety.

Parents of healthy volunteer children: IQ less than 70; ongoing medical illness; neurological disorder (including seizures); pregnancy; past or present substance abuse; history of sexual abuse, history of specific Axis I psychiatric disorders.

Extended Relatives of At-Risk Parents/Children: Exclusion criteria will include: (1) active psychosis, (2) dementia, (3) IQ less than 70, (4) any clinical condition in need of immediate care, (5) any chromic medical illness resulting in impaired CNS function, or (6) any condition that would interfere with the participants' ability to perform the research tasks.

  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00006177

Contacts
Contact: Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office (800) 411-1222 prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov
Contact: TTY 1-866-411-1010

Locations
United States, District of Columbia
Childrens National Medical Center Recruiting
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
United States, Maryland
Johns Hopkins University Recruiting
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21205
United States, Massachusetts
Harvard University Recruiting
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
United States, New York
Long Island Jewish Medical Center Recruiting
New Hyde Park, New York, United States, 11040
Sponsors and Collaborators
  More Information

NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page  This link exits the ClinicalTrials.gov site

Publications:
Study ID Numbers: 000198, 00-M-0198
Study First Received: August 12, 2000
Last Updated: October 6, 2008
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00006177  
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):
Emotion
Children and Adolescents
Affective Neuroscience
Bipolar Disorder
Child
Child Bipolar
Child Bipolar
Bipolar Disorder
BPD
Adolescent Bipolar

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Affective Disorders, Psychotic
Mental Disorders
Bipolar Disorder
Mood Disorders
Psychotic Disorders
Healthy

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Pathologic Processes
Disease

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on January 30, 2009