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AzTrials

AutismPhase 2NCT01624194

Intranasal Oxytocin Treatment for Social Deficits in Children With Autism

A Phase 2 study testing Oxytocin nasal spray in people with Autism, run by Stanford University at 1 site in United States.

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

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder characterized by core deficits in social behavior and communication, and the presence of repetitive or stereotyped behaviors. It is one of three recognized disorders in the autism spectrum which affects an estimated 1 in 88 children in the United States. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 6 to 12 years
Conditions the study is for
Autism
What is being tested?
Oxytocin nasal spray
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
54 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Jun 2012to May 2016
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 6 to 12 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Medically healthy outpatients between 6 and 12 years of age (cut off 12 years and 11 months)
  • Intelligence Quotient > 40
  • Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder based on the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, and DSM-IV criteria
  • Clinical Global Impression severity rating of 4 or higher
  • Care provider who can reliably bring subject to clinic visits, provide trustworthy ratings, and interacts with the subject on a regular basis
  • Stable medications for at least 4 weeks
  • No planned changes in psychosocial interventions during the trial
  • Willingness to provide blood samples.

Who cannot join

  • Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or psychotic disorder
  • Regular nasal obstruction or nosebleeds
  • Active medical problems: unstable seizures, significant physical illness (e.g., serious liver, renal, or cardiac pathology)
  • Sensitivity to preservatives (in particular E 216, E 218, and chlorobutanol hemihydrate)
  • A genetic abnormality (e.g., Fragile X Syndrome)
  • Significant hearing or vision impairments
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Habitually drinks large volumes of water
  • Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or child birth within the last 6 months
  • Sexually active females not using a reliable method of contraception.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Stanford University School of Medicine

    Stanford, California, 94305

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial of Intranasal Oxytocin Treatment for Social Deficits in Children With Autism.

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder characterized by core deficits in social behavior and communication, and the presence of repetitive or stereotyped behaviors. It is one of three recognized disorders in the autism spectrum which affects an estimated 1 in 88 children in the United States. At present, pharmacotherapies target only associated features of autism, with no effective drug treatments for the social impairments. Several lines of evidence now suggest that the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) may be an effective treatment for the core social deficits in autism. Here we will test the effects of twice daily intranasal OT (24 IU) over a 4-week period for enhancing social deficits in male and female children aged 6-12 years with autism. This research has high potential to lead to the development of more effective treatments and earlier interventions for children with autism.

Read the detailed description

In recent years, the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) has been implicated in a wide range of social behaviors including attachment bonds, emotion recognition, eye gaze to social cues, and memory for social information. Social impairments represent one of the most intractable features of autism, and evidence now suggests that OT biology is dysregulated in individuals with this disorder. The central aim of the research outlined here is to test whether OT administration to children with autism increases their quality and quantity of social interactions and enhances their ability to process emotional and social information. Findings from initial single-dose OT administration studies in teenaged and adult males with autism have shown improvement in some aspects of social functioning, but replication and extension to well-controlled treatment trials with younger male and female subjects is necessary to evaluate effectiveness. We therefore aim to investigate the effect of intranasal OT on social cognition and behavior immediately following a single-dose (24IU) and following a 4-week period of OT (24IU BID) administration in a sample of 50 subjects with autism aged 6 to 12 years. The primary outcome for this study is change in social behavior, as determined by parent ratings on the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) after the 4-week treatment period. Secondary outcomes are changes in functioning on laboratory-based measures of social behavior and cognition following single-dose and 4-week OT administration. Research in a small study sample (N=13) also identified treatment responders and non-responders to a single-dose of OT. Thus, we also aim to identify biological and cognitive and behavioral variables (i.e., pretreatment levels of social functioning and pretreatment plasma hormone levels) that may influence treatment response efficacy in our larger study sample. On completion of the 4-week treatment period all subjects will have the option of participating in another 4-week double-blind trial in which they will be switched to the alternate nasal spray to that which they previously received. They will then undergo a fourth and final assessment time-point using the same testing procedures as outlined above on completion of the 4-week dosing. By providing subjects with the option of participating in a second 4-week treatment trial, all subjects will have an opportunity to receive the active oxytocin nasal spray. We also will be able to examine any ongoing effects of oxytocin treatment in the group receiving placebo during the second 4-week administration period. Subjects not willing to take part in the second trial will exit the study and will be referred to their treating physician.

Conditions
Autism
Being tested
Oxytocin nasal spray, Placebo
Medical subject headings
Autistic Disorder

What participants receive

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

  • Oxytocin nasal sprayDrug

    Also called Syntocinon® Nasal Spray

    24IU BID (3 x 0.1 mL [4IU] sprays per nostril twice daily for 4-weeks.

  • PlaceboDrug

    3 x 0.1 mL sprays per nostril twice daily for 4-weeks.

Study groups in NCT01624194
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Oxytocin nasal sprayActive comparatorPrior to randomization, all subjects will participate in a 1-week open-label placebo lead-in trial. Each subject will be administered the placebo nasal spray at Stanford University and then their parent will continue administering the nasal spray to the subject for 1 week at home. Each subject will then be randomly assigned either to the active group or to the placebo (stratified by gender) and will be given the appropriate nasal spray bottle and their parents will be responsible for administering 3 puffs per nostril (4 IU/puff) to their child for a total dose of 24 IU oxytocin or placebo twice daily (BID; morning and evening) for 4-weeks. On completion of this 4-week treatment trial subjects will have the option of participating in a second double-blind trial in which they will be assigned to the alternate nasal spray, to that which they received during the first 4-week trial, for an additional 4-week period.
Receives: Drug: Oxytocin nasal spray
Placebo nasal sprayPlacebo comparatorThe placebo nasal spray bottles will be prepared by adding all of the ingredients used in the Syntocinon nasal sprays with the exception of the concentrated oxytocin solution.
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

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

  1. Change From Baseline in Parent Rated Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) Scores During Treatment.

    Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) raw scores measure social abilities with lower raw scores meaning better social abilities. (Raw Score Range: 0 - 195)

    Measured: Baseline; Week 4

Secondary outcomes (16)
  1. Number of Participants With Side Effects Assessed Using Parent Rated Dosage Record Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (DOTES) Scores During Treatment

    Dosage Record Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (DOTES) side effects reported by parents during 4-weeks of treatment. Participant Counts are used.

    Measured: Baseline through Week 4

  2. Change From Baseline in Height.

    Measured: Baseline; Week 4

  3. Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Score at Week 4

    This outcome is reported as the count of participants in each CGI-I rating category at the week 4 visit, assessing change over the 4-week period. CGI-I rating of 1=Very Much Improved, 2=Much Improved, 3=Minimally Improved, 4=No Change, 5=Minimally Worse, 6=Much Worse, and 7=Very Much Worse.

    Measured: Baseline to Week 4

  4. Parent Rated Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) Irritability Scores at Baseline and Week 4

    Higher scores indicate more symptoms, lower scores indicate fewer symptoms. Irritability scores can range from 0-45. Lethargy scores can range from 0-48. Stereotypy scores can range from 0-21. Hyperactivity scores can range from 0-48. Inappropriate speech scores can from 0-12.

    Measured: Baseline; Week 4

  5. Change From Baseline in Parent Rated Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) During Treatment.

    Scale measuring severity of anxiety symptoms. Higher scores mean higher levels of anxiety, lower scores mean lower levels of anxiety. (Raw Score Range: 0 - 114)

    Measured: Baseline; Week 4

  6. Change From Baseline in Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition - Social and Communication Subscales During Treatment.

    Higher Social Standard Score means better social skills, lower Social Standard Score means worse social skills. Higher Communication Standard Score means better communication skills, lower Communication Standard Score means worse communication skills. Standard Scores can range from 20 to 160.

    Measured: Baseline; Week 4

  7. Change From Baseline in Laboratory Based Facial Emotion Recognition Abilities During Treatment.

    Measured: Up to 4 weeks

  8. Change From Baseline in Laboratory Based Eye-gaze to Social Cues During Treatment.

    Measured: Baseline; Week 4

  9. Change From Baseline in Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, Child Version (RMET-child) Scores During Treatment.

    Measured: Up to 4 weeks

  10. Change From Baseline in Laboratory Based Social Mimicry Abilities During Treatment.

    Measured: Up to 4 weeks

  11. Change From Baseline in Developmental NEuroPSYchological Assessment (NEPSY-II) Affect Recognition Scores During Treatment.

    Higher Affect Recognition scores mean better affect recognition abilities, lower Affect Recognition scores mean worse affect recognition abilities.

    Scores can range from 1 to 19.

    Measured: Baseline; Week 4

  12. Change From Baseline in Plasma Oxytocin Levels During Treatment.

    This outcome originally specified that oxytocin, vasopressin, and cortisol levels would be assessed; however, data on vasopressin and cortisol levels were not collected during the study.

    There are no clinical laboratory tests that establish a normative range for oxytocin. Measurements prior to and following treatment were intended to evaluate oxytocin level as a predictor of response.

    Measured: Up to 4 weeks

  13. Change From Baseline in Parent Rated Repetitive Behavior Scale- Revised (RBS-R) Scores During Treatment.

    Higher scores on the Repetitive Behavior Scale- Revised mean higher levels of repetitive and restricted behaviors. (Raw Score Total Range: 0 - 129)

    Measured: Baseline; Week 4

  14. Change From Baseline in Weight

    Measured: Baseline; Week 4

  15. Change From Baseline in Heart Rate

    Measured: Baseline; Week 4

  16. Change From Baseline in Blood Pressure

    Measured: Baseline; Week 4

Timeline

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

  1. First posted20 Jun 2012 (estimated)
  2. Study startJun 2012
  3. Primary completionMay 2016
  4. Study completionMay 2016

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
54 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01624194
Sponsor's protocol ID
SU-12132011-8827
Status last verified
Jul 2019
First submitted
18 Jun 2012
Last updated
15 Jul 2019
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Parker KJ, Oztan O, Libove RA, Sumiyoshi RD, Jackson LP, Karhson DS, Summers JE, Hinman KE, Motonaga KS, Phillips JM, Carson DS, Garner JP, Hardan AY. Intranasal oxytocin treatment for social deficits and biomarkers of response in children with autism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Jul 25;114(30):8119-8124. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1705521114. Epub 2017 Jul 10.

    PubMed 28696286
  • Iffland M, Livingstone N, Jorgensen M, Hazell P, Gillies D. Pharmacological intervention for irritability, aggression, and self-injury in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Oct 9;10(10):CD011769. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011769.pub2.

    PubMed 37811711

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Oxytocin nasal spray in people with Autism, run by Stanford University at 1 site in United States.

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 8 inclusion and 9 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 15 Jul 2019. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

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 6 Jun 2018). 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 From Baseline in Parent Rated Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) Scores During Treatment. (time frame: Baseline; Week 4). 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 NCT01624194, which also lists 2 linked publications.

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 15 Jul 2019.

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