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Memantine Treatment for Obsessive-compulsive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Primary Purpose

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Status
Completed
Phase
Phase 3
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Memantine
Sponsored by
University of California, Los Angeles
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder focused on measuring Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Generalized anxiety disorder, Memantine, Namenda

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - 64 Years (Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • The subject is male or female outpatient between 18-64 years old.
  • The subject meets DSM-IV criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as determined by the MINI.
  • Sexually active female patients of childbearing potential must be practicing at least one or more the following methods of contraception during the study: intrauterine device (IUD), barrier method in combination with a spermicide, oral/hormonal contraception or abstinence. Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test prior to receiving study drug.
  • Written informed consent must be obtained from the subject prior to study participation.
  • The subject is in good medical health or with chronic medical conditions which are currently stable.
  • No current abuse of alcohol or other substance.
  • The subject has a total score of 20 or more on the HARS or YBOCS at screening (for GAD and OCD, respectively)
  • The subject has a Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Severity score of 4 or more at screening.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • The subject meets DSM-IV criteria for an Axis I diagnosis (other than GAD or OCD) as the primary diagnosis (i.e., schizophrenia, mood disorder, psychosis, anorexia nervosa) as determined by the MINI.
  • The subject is clinically judged by the investigator to be at risk for suicide or is acutely suicidal as objectively measured by the MINI and MSE.
  • The subject is clinically judged by the investigator to be at risk for homicide or is acutely homicidal as objectively measured by the MINI and MSE.
  • The subject has a psychiatric condition that would require inpatient, or partial psychiatric hospitalization.
  • Seizure disorders.
  • Significant history of medical disease (i.e. cardiovascular, hepatic (e.g. cirrhosis, hepatitis B or C) renal, gynecological, musculoskeletal, neurological, gastrointestinal, metabolic, hematological, endocrine, cancer with a metastatic potential or progressive neurological disorders) which could impair reliable participation in the trial or necessitate the use of medication not allowed by this protocol.
  • The subject is pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing. If a subject becomes pregnant, she will be discontinued immediately and followed appropriately.
  • Concomitant therapy with another investigational drug, or participation in an investigational drug study within one month prior to entering this study.
  • Current psychotherapeutic treatment except for treatment with Specific Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRIs) medications which include: Fluoxetine (Prozac), Paroxetine (Paxil), Sertraline (Zoloft), Luvox (Fluvoxamine), and Citalopram. Potential subjects may remain on one of the SSRI medications provided that he or she has been on a stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to entering this study; this dose remains stable throughout the remainder of this study; and it can be determined that this medication is not exacerbating the anxiety symptoms.
  • History of poor compliance or in the Investigator's judgment patients any subject whose treatment as an outpatient would be clinically contraindicated
  • The subject has attempted suicide one or more times within the past twelve months
  • The subject has a Structured Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (SIGH-D) score above 38 which suggests a moderate to severe clinical level of depressive symptoms

Sites / Locations

  • UCLA

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Active Comparator

Arm Label

OCD group

GAD group

Arm Description

OCD group - received 12 weeks of open-label memantine 10 mg twice daily, as either mono therapy or augmentation of their existing medication.

GAD group - received 12 weeks of open-label memantine 10 mg twice daily, as either mono therapy or augmentation of their existing medication.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Psychometric Scores
Participants in the OCD group were rated using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), a standard measure of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) severity in pharmacotherapy studies. It is administered by a trained rater. It comprises 10 items assessing OCD symptoms (e.g. time spent, degree of control, severity). Each item is scored on a scale from 0 (not present) to 4 (severe) [total score range = 0-40] over the previous week. The higher the number on the Y-BOCS, the more severe the symptoms. Participants in the GAD group were rated using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), a standard measure of anxiety severity in pharmacotherapy studies. It is administered by a trained rater. It comprises 14 items assessing anxiety symptoms. Each item is scored on a scale of 0 (not present) to 4 (severe), with a total score range of 0-56, where <17 indicates mild severity, 18-24 mild to moderate severity and 25-30 moderate to severe.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Full Information

First Posted
May 5, 2008
Last Updated
April 12, 2019
Sponsor
University of California, Los Angeles
Collaborators
Saban Family Foundation
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT00674219
Brief Title
Memantine Treatment for Obsessive-compulsive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Official Title
Differential Efficacy of Memantine for Obsessive-compulsive Disorder vs. Generalized Anxiety Disorder: an Open-label Trial
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
April 2019
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
May 2005 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
January 2008 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
January 2008 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
University of California, Los Angeles
Collaborators
Saban Family Foundation

4. Oversight

Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
The objective of this study was to obtain preliminary open-label data on the efficacy and tolerability of memantine, an anti-glutamatergic medication with a unique pharmacodynamic profile, in individuals with OCD and individuals with GAD. Because glutamatergic hyperactivity in frontal and frontal-subcortical circuits may play a role in the symptomatic expression of OCD, and possibly GAD, agents that reduce glutamatergic neurotransmission should provide unique anti-stress and anti-obsessional benefits. Memantine is a specific, uncompetitive antagonist at the NMDA receptor that blocks sustained activation of the NMDA receptor by high concentrations of glutamate under pathological conditions but rapidly leaves the NMDA channel upon transient physiological activation by low concentrations of glutamate.
Detailed Description
Several case reports and an open-label trial have reported efficacy of anti-glutamatergic medications for the treatment of OCD. In an open-label trial of riluzole, a glutamate release inhibitor, seven of 13 adult patients with OCD improved, and five were categorized as treatment responders. Another open trial found riluzole to be effective for four of six children with treatment-refractory OCD. N-acetylcysteine, an agent that likely attenuates glutamate neurotransmission, was effective as an augmentation in one patient with OCD. Two case reports described memantine treatment of OCD. Poyurovsky et al. reported improvement with memantine augmentation in one patient with treatment resistant OCD, while Pasquini and Biondi noted improvement in one OCD patient with checking compulsions but not in one with contamination obsessions. There have been no controlled or open-label trials of memantine in OCD reported thus far. Few studies have examined the efficacy of anti-glutamatergic agents in GAD. In an open-label trial of riluzole treatment in 18 patients with GAD, twelve patients responded and eight achieved remission. A double-blind, controlled study found that LY354740, a metabotropic glutamate receptor 2/3 (mGlu2/3) agonist, was significantly more effective than placebo for GAD. No studies of memantine in GAD have been reported thus far. We hypothesized that treatment with memantine would result in significant symptom reduction in both OCD and GAD.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Keywords
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Generalized anxiety disorder, Memantine, Namenda

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Phase 3
Interventional Study Model
Single Group Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Non-Randomized
Enrollment
17 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
OCD group
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
OCD group - received 12 weeks of open-label memantine 10 mg twice daily, as either mono therapy or augmentation of their existing medication.
Arm Title
GAD group
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
GAD group - received 12 weeks of open-label memantine 10 mg twice daily, as either mono therapy or augmentation of their existing medication.
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Memantine
Other Intervention Name(s)
Namenda
Intervention Description
Namenda 10mg BID for 12 weeks
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Psychometric Scores
Description
Participants in the OCD group were rated using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), a standard measure of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) severity in pharmacotherapy studies. It is administered by a trained rater. It comprises 10 items assessing OCD symptoms (e.g. time spent, degree of control, severity). Each item is scored on a scale from 0 (not present) to 4 (severe) [total score range = 0-40] over the previous week. The higher the number on the Y-BOCS, the more severe the symptoms. Participants in the GAD group were rated using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), a standard measure of anxiety severity in pharmacotherapy studies. It is administered by a trained rater. It comprises 14 items assessing anxiety symptoms. Each item is scored on a scale of 0 (not present) to 4 (severe), with a total score range of 0-56, where <17 indicates mild severity, 18-24 mild to moderate severity and 25-30 moderate to severe.
Time Frame
Baseline, 12 weeks

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
64 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: The subject is male or female outpatient between 18-64 years old. The subject meets DSM-IV criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as determined by the MINI. Sexually active female patients of childbearing potential must be practicing at least one or more the following methods of contraception during the study: intrauterine device (IUD), barrier method in combination with a spermicide, oral/hormonal contraception or abstinence. Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test prior to receiving study drug. Written informed consent must be obtained from the subject prior to study participation. The subject is in good medical health or with chronic medical conditions which are currently stable. No current abuse of alcohol or other substance. The subject has a total score of 20 or more on the HARS or YBOCS at screening (for GAD and OCD, respectively) The subject has a Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Severity score of 4 or more at screening. Exclusion Criteria: The subject meets DSM-IV criteria for an Axis I diagnosis (other than GAD or OCD) as the primary diagnosis (i.e., schizophrenia, mood disorder, psychosis, anorexia nervosa) as determined by the MINI. The subject is clinically judged by the investigator to be at risk for suicide or is acutely suicidal as objectively measured by the MINI and MSE. The subject is clinically judged by the investigator to be at risk for homicide or is acutely homicidal as objectively measured by the MINI and MSE. The subject has a psychiatric condition that would require inpatient, or partial psychiatric hospitalization. Seizure disorders. Significant history of medical disease (i.e. cardiovascular, hepatic (e.g. cirrhosis, hepatitis B or C) renal, gynecological, musculoskeletal, neurological, gastrointestinal, metabolic, hematological, endocrine, cancer with a metastatic potential or progressive neurological disorders) which could impair reliable participation in the trial or necessitate the use of medication not allowed by this protocol. The subject is pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing. If a subject becomes pregnant, she will be discontinued immediately and followed appropriately. Concomitant therapy with another investigational drug, or participation in an investigational drug study within one month prior to entering this study. Current psychotherapeutic treatment except for treatment with Specific Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRIs) medications which include: Fluoxetine (Prozac), Paroxetine (Paxil), Sertraline (Zoloft), Luvox (Fluvoxamine), and Citalopram. Potential subjects may remain on one of the SSRI medications provided that he or she has been on a stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to entering this study; this dose remains stable throughout the remainder of this study; and it can be determined that this medication is not exacerbating the anxiety symptoms. History of poor compliance or in the Investigator's judgment patients any subject whose treatment as an outpatient would be clinically contraindicated The subject has attempted suicide one or more times within the past twelve months The subject has a Structured Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (SIGH-D) score above 38 which suggests a moderate to severe clinical level of depressive symptoms
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Alexander Bystritsky, MD
Organizational Affiliation
University of California, Los Angeles
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
UCLA
City
Los Angeles
State/Province
California
ZIP/Postal Code
90095
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
No
Citations:
PubMed Identifier
19204653
Citation
Feusner JD, Kerwin L, Saxena S, Bystritsky A. Differential efficacy of memantine for obsessive-compulsive disorder vs. generalized anxiety disorder: an open-label trial. Psychopharmacol Bull. 2009;42(1):81-93.
Results Reference
result

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Memantine Treatment for Obsessive-compulsive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

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