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Cigarette SmokingPhase 2NCT00554840

Comparison of Varenicline and Placebo for Smoking Cessation in Schizophrenia

A Phase 2 study testing varenicline in people with Cigarette Smoking and Schizophrenia, run by University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this proposed pilot study is to examine the use of varenicline in people with schizophrenia to specifically assess tolerability and efficacy for smoking cessation. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 64 years
Conditions the study is for
Cigarette Smoking, Schizophrenia
What is being tested?
varenicline
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
16 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
Nov 2007to Apr 2011
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 64 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18-64
  • Regular ten cigarette per day smoker for one year
  • Nicotine Dependency Score greater than or equal to four
  • DSM-IV Diagnosis of Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective disorder
  • Psychiatric medication regimen unchanged for at least 90 days
  • Psychiatric medication dosage unchanged for at least 30 days

Who cannot join

  • Psychiatric hospitalization in last 6 months
  • Meets criteria for current Major Depressive Disorder or has a score of greater than 10 on the Calgary Depression Scale (see withdrawal criteria)
  • Suicide or homicide ideation with a plan in the last six months
  • Life time history of suicide attempt
  • Has had a diagnosis of Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective disorder for less than three years
  • Current treatment with Bupropion SR
Show all 13Show fewer
  • DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol or substance dependence within last 6 months*
  • DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol or substance abuse within three months *
  • Pregnancy or lactation in females (+HCG)
  • Use of tobacco product other than cigarettes
  • Use of nicotine replacements
  • Unstable or serious medical condition in last 6 months
  • Regular use of cimetidine (OTC or Rx) *Substance abuse/dependency exclusions do not apply to abuse of or dependence on nicotine.

About this study

The purpose of this proposed pilot study is to examine the use of varenicline in people with schizophrenia to specifically assess tolerability and efficacy for smoking cessation. Specifically, The primary objective of this pilot study is to determine if taking of varenicline along with an individual smoking cessation supportive program is a safe and effective treatment of nicotine addiction in schizophrenic patients. We hypothesize that the varenicline treated patients will achieve higher rates of smoking cessation than those who receive placebo and individual support.

Read the detailed description

The primary objective of the data analysis will be to measure the rate of smoking cessation in the two treatment groups. Smoking cessation will be measured weekly through a composite measure of self-reported abstinence, end expired carbon monoxide (CO) of less than C10 ppm and urine cotinine dipstick measure of < 30 ng/ml. The primary endpoint will be point prevalence at 12 weeks. The four week continuous abstinence rate for the last four weeks of the treatment phase will also be evaluated. The point prevalence abstinence rates will also be obtained. The secondary objective is to determine whether smoking cessation is associated with a worsening of cognition and psychiatric symptomology. We hypothesize that subjects who achieve abstinence in the varenicline group will not show worsening on neurocognitive and symptom measures compared to abstinence subjects in the placebo group. Lastly, we will attempt to identify any clinical or topographic markers which predict cessation.

Being tested
varenicline, placebo
Medical subject headings
Cigarette Smoking, Schizophrenia

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • vareniclineDrug

    Also called chantix, study drug

    Subjects will be randomized to receive either active drug or matching placebo capsules using the following titration schedule: 0.5mg for three days, 0.5mg twice daily for the next four days, then 1mg twice daily for the rest of the treatment phase. Subjects will be evaluated weekly for abstinence through self report, end expired CO and urine dipstick for cotinine.

  • placeboDrug

    Also called sugar pill

    At the end of Pre-med week 1, subjects will receive study medication with the target quit date being the following week. Subjects will be randomized to receive either active drug or matching placebo capsules using the following titration schedule: 0.5mg for three days, 0.5mg twice daily for the next four days, then 1mg twice daily for the rest of the treatment phase. Subjects will be evaluated weekly for abstinence through self report, end expired CO and urine dipstick for cotinine.

Study groups in NCT00554840
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
vareniclineActive comparatorNot described
Receives: Drug: varenicline
placeboPlacebo comparatorNot described
Receives: Drug: placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change of ExpiredCO Level From Baseline

    End expired carbon monoxide (CO) level change from baseline to determine participants' level of smoking reduction by treatment assignment. Larger negative values represent a greater level of smoking reduction.

    Measured: Weekly for 12 weeks

  2. Level of Nicotine Dependence by Treatment Assignment

    Nicotine dependence was measured using the total score from the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) assessment. The total score is computed by adding the scores from the five subscales. Total scores range from 1-10, with lower scores representing a smaller degree of nicotine dependence.

    Measured: Weekly for 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) - Total Score

    The total BPRS score is calculated by adding the scores for subscales #1-#18. Each scale ranges from "1=Not Present" to "7=Very Severe". Total scores range from a minimum score of 18 to a maximum score of 126. A higher total score indicates a more severe psychiatric symptom rating.

    Measured: Baseline (week 0) then again during the Treatment Phase at weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12.

  2. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) - Psychosis Score

    The psychosis score is calculated by adding the scores for scales #4 Conceptual Disorganization, #11 Suspiciousness, #12 Hallucinatory Behavior, and #15 Unusual Thought Content. Each scale ranges from "1=Not Present" to "7=Very Severe". The minimum psychosis score is 4 and the maximum psychosis score is 28. A higher score indicates a more severe psychosis rating.

    Measured: Baseline (week 0) then again during the Treatment Phase at weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12.

  3. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) - Anxiety/Depression Score

    The anxiety/depression score is calculated by adding the scores for scales #2 Anxiety and #9 Depressive Mood. Each scale ranges from "1=Not Present" to "7=Very Severe". The minimum anxiety/depression score is 2 and the maximum psychosis score is 14. A higher score indicates a more severe anxiety/depression rating.

    Measured: Baseline (week 0) then again during the Treatment Phase at weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12.

  4. Side Effects

    Side effects (33 items) were measured using a Side Effects Checklist (SEC). The percentage of participants endorsing each side effect were reported regardless of the severity or relation to study drug.

    Measured: Weekly for 12 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted7 Nov 2007 (estimated)
  2. Study startNov 2007
  3. Primary completionDec 2010
  4. Study completionApr 2011

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
16 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00554840
Sponsor's protocol ID
HP-00042225
Status last verified
Mar 2022
First submitted
6 Nov 2007
Last updated
18 Mar 2022
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Livingstone-Banks J, Fanshawe TR, Thomas KH, Theodoulou A, Hajizadeh A, Hartman L, Lindson N. Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 May 5;5(5):CD006103. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006103.pub8.

    PubMed 37142273

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing varenicline in people with Cigarette Smoking and Schizophrenia, run by University of Maryland, Baltimore.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Mar 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 15 May 2017). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change of ExpiredCO Level From Baseline (time frame: Weekly for 12 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00554840, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Mar 2022.

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