Herpes SimplexPhase 4NCT01794897
Valacyclovir Augmentation for Cognitive and Functional Remediation in Schizophrenia
A Phase 4 study testing Experimental: Valacyclovir treatment in people with Herpes Simplex and Schizophrenia, run by University of Pittsburgh at 1 site in India.
Trial summary
The effects of Valacyclovir (VAV) augmentation or placebo (PLA) as adjuncts to conventional antipsychotic drug treatment will be evaluated among patients with schizophrenia who have been exposed to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 50 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Herpes Simplex, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Experimental: Valacyclovir treatment
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 134 participants
- Where
- 1 siteIndia
- Study dates
- Feb 2013to Sep 2016
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 50 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Written informed consent.
- Both genders, ages 18-50 years
- Schizophrenia / schizoaffective disorder (DSM IV).
- Stable dose of antipsychotic for > 1 month, continued throughout the study.
- Score 4 or more on one or more items of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.
- Exposed to HSV-1: serum antibody assays.
Who cannot join
- Substance abuse in the past month/dependence past 6 months.
- History / current medical /neurological illnesses e.g., epilepsy.
- Pregnancy.
- History of immune disorders, HIV infection, or receiving immune-suppressants.
- Receiving regular antiviral therapy.
- History of hypersensitivity to Valacyclovir.
- Mental retardation as defined in DSM IV.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The effects of Valacyclovir (VAV) augmentation or placebo (PLA) as adjuncts to conventional antipsychotic drug treatment will be evaluated among patients with schizophrenia who have been exposed to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Hypothesis: Valacyclovir (VAV) augmentation improves (a) cognitive and (b) overall function among Herpes Simples Virus 1 (HSV-1) exposed early course schizophrenia patients.
Read the detailed description
Design: We propose a randomized double blind placebo controlled study of patients with early course Schizophrenia (SZ) / schizoaffective disorder (SZA) patients exposed to HSV-1, who are receiving antipsychotic drugs. The effects of VAV augmentation or PLA as adjuncts to conventional antipsychotic drug treatment will be evaluated. As outcomes, we will evaluate clinical symptoms, cognitive variables, overall function (including social function) and side effects. The participants will be under the direct care of the Indian investigators during the study. Ratings will be performed blind by research staff. We will pre-screen for HSV-1 exposure. There will be a 2 week placebo run in phase, 16 week augmentation and 4 week follow up to identify post-treatment side effects.
- Conditions
- Herpes Simplex, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder
- Being tested
- Experimental: Valacyclovir treatment, Placebo comparator
- Medical subject headings
- Herpes Simplex, Schizophrenia, Psychotic Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Experimental: Valacyclovir treatmentDrug
Patients will have a placebo run-in for two weeks after which they will be evaluated for the variables of interest and then randomized to either VAV or placebo group in a 1:1 proportion. The VAV group will receive 1.5 g Valacyclovir by mouth, twice daily for 16 weeks, after which they will be followed up without VAV for 4 weeks to monitor delayed adverse effects.
Placebo comparatorDrug
Patients will have a placebo run-in for two weeks after which they will be evaluated for the variables of interest and then randomized to either VAV or placebo group in a 1:1 proportion. Subjects in the placebo arm will receive placebo for 16 weeks, after which they will be followed up without placebo for 4 weeks to monitor delayed adverse effects.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Valacyclovir treatment | Experimental | Drug: Experimental: Valacyclovir treatment. Patients will have a placebo run-in for two weeks after which they will be evaluated for the variables of interest and then randomized to either Valacyclovir (VAV) or placebo (PLA) group in a 1:1 proportion. The VAV group will receive 1.5 g Valacyclovir by mouth, twice daily for 16 weeks, after which they will be followed up without VAV for 4 weeks to monitor delayed adverse effects. Receives: Drug: Experimental: Valacyclovir treatment; Drug: Placebo comparator |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Placebo comparator: Patients will have a placebo run-in for two weeks after which they will be evaluated for the variables of interest and then randomized to either VAV or placebo group in a 1:1 proportion. Subjects in the placebo arm will receive placebo for 16 weeks, after which they will be followed up without placebo for 4 weeks to monitor delayed adverse effects. Receives: Drug: Placebo comparator |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Cognition
The following measures will be used to assess cognitive functioning both before and after treatment with Valacyclovir:
Cognition: (1) Trail Making Test (TMT). This paper and pencil test is a convenient estimate of cognitive function, principally focusing on attention, working memory and executive function. (2) Computerized Neuropsychological Battery (CNB). We have validated a Hindi version of the Penn CNB and administered it to over 300 Indian participants. The CNB includes cognitive measures that distinguish SZ cases and relatives from controls. Accuracy and response time are recorded. Cognitive domains assessed: Abstraction and mental flexibility; Attention; Verbal Memory; Face Memory; Spatial Memory; Spatial Processing; Sensory-motor Dexterity; Emotion Processing.
Measured: Assessed at week 16
Secondary outcomes (3)
Clinical Severity
Clinical Severity will be measured by the following assessments: (i) Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS. The PANSS is 7 point rating scale for 30 psychopathological items based on interviews or reports. (ii) Clinical Global Impression - Severity (CGI-S). The CGI-S is a 7-point scale that rates the severity of the patient's illness at the time of assessment.
Measured: Assessed at week 16
Social Function
Social function will be measured by: (1) Independent Living Skills Survey (ILSS), a comprehensive, validated measure of functional living skills including self rated and observer rated portions (2) Sheehan's disability scale (SDS), a self-report tool that assesses functional impairment in work/school, social and family life with a 10-point visual analogue scale; (3) Global Assessment of Function (GAF), a global measure of function and symptom severity (4) Quality of Life Scale (QOL) measures interpersonal, social and occupational functioning.
Measured: Assessed at week 16
Side Effects
Side effects will be assessed using: (1) Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale This scale rates the severity of dyskinetic movements. Orofacial, neck-trunk and distal (limb) movements are rated separately. 2) Barnes Akathisia Scale: A rating scale to assess the severity of drug-induced akathisia.
Measured: Assessed at week 16
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Feb 2013 (estimated)
- Study startFeb 2013
- Primary completionSep 2016
- Study completionSep 2016
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Herpes SimplexStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of PittsburghThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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 4
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 134 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Pittsburgh
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Stanley Medical Research Institute
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Vishwajit Nimgaonkar, MD PhD, University of Pittsburgh
- Investigators
- Vishwajit Nimgaonkar, MD, PhD, Principal investigator, University of PittsburghSmita Deshpande, MD, Principal investigator, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01794897
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PRO11120013
- Status last verified
- Oct 2016
- First submitted
- 6 Feb 2013
- Last updated
- 26 Oct 2016
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Oct 2016. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Valacyclovir Augmentation for Cognitive and Functional Remediation in Schizophrenia
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01794897
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PRO11120013
- Conditions
- Herpes Simplex, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 134 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PittsburghUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Stanley Medical Research Institute
- Study start
- Feb 2013
- Primary completion
- Sep 2016 (actual)
- Study completion
- Sep 2016 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 Feb 2013 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The effects of Valacyclovir (VAV) augmentation or placebo (PLA) as adjuncts to conventional antipsychotic drug treatment will be evaluated among patients with schizophrenia who have been exposed to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Hypothesis: Valacyclovir (VAV) augmentation improves (a) cognitive and (b) overall function among Herpes Simples Virus 1 (HSV-1) exposed early course schizophrenia patients.
Detailed description
Design: We propose a randomized double blind placebo controlled study of patients with early course Schizophrenia (SZ) / schizoaffective disorder (SZA) patients exposed to HSV-1, who are receiving antipsychotic drugs. The effects of VAV augmentation or PLA as adjuncts to conventional antipsychotic drug treatment will be evaluated. As outcomes, we will evaluate clinical symptoms, cognitive variables, overall function (including social function) and side effects. The participants will be under the direct care of the Indian investigators during the study. Ratings will be performed blind by research staff. We will pre-screen for HSV-1 exposure. There will be a 2 week placebo run in phase, 16 week augmentation and 4 week follow up to identify post-treatment side effects.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Valacyclovir treatment | Experimental | Drug: Experimental: Valacyclovir treatment, Drug: Placebo comparatorDrug: Experimental: Valacyclovir treatment. Patients will have a placebo run-in for two weeks after which they will be evaluated for the variables of interest and then randomized to either Valacyclovir (VAV) or placebo (PLA) group in a 1:1 proportion. The VAV group will receive 1.5 g Valacyclovir by mouth, twice daily for 16 weeks, after which they will be followed up without VAV for 4 weeks to monitor delayed adverse effects. |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Drug: Placebo comparatorPlacebo comparator: Patients will have a placebo run-in for two weeks after which they will be evaluated for the variables of interest and then randomized to either VAV or placebo group in a 1:1 proportion. Subjects in the placebo arm will receive placebo for 16 weeks, after which they will be followed up without placebo for 4 weeks to monitor delayed adverse effects. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Written informed consent.
- Both genders, ages 18-50 years
- Schizophrenia / schizoaffective disorder (DSM IV).
- Stable dose of antipsychotic for > 1 month, continued throughout the study.
- Score 4 or more on one or more items of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Substance abuse in the past month/dependence past 6 months.
- History / current medical /neurological illnesses e.g., epilepsy.
- Pregnancy.
- History of immune disorders, HIV infection, or receiving immune-suppressants.
- Receiving regular antiviral therapy.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Valacyclovir treatmentPatients will have a placebo run-in for two weeks after which they will be evaluated for the variables of interest and then randomized to either VAV or placebo group in a 1:1 proportion. The VAV group will receive 1.5 g Valacyclovir by mouth, twice daily for 16 weeks, after which they will be followed up without VAV for 4 weeks to monitor delayed adverse effects. | Drug | Valacyclovir treatment |
| Placebo comparatorPatients will have a placebo run-in for two weeks after which they will be evaluated for the variables of interest and then randomized to either VAV or placebo group in a 1:1 proportion. Subjects in the placebo arm will receive placebo for 16 weeks, after which they will be followed up without placebo for 4 weeks to monitor delayed adverse effects. | Drug | Placebo, Valacyclovir treatment |
Primary outcome
Cognition
Time frame: Assessed at week 16
The following measures will be used to assess cognitive functioning both before and after treatment with Valacyclovir: Cognition: (1) Trail Making Test (TMT). This paper and pencil test is a convenient estimate of cognitive function, principally focusing on attention, working memory and executive function. (2) Computerized Neuropsychological Battery (CNB). We have validated a Hindi version of the Penn CNB and administered it to over 300 Indian participants. The CNB includes cognitive measures that distinguish SZ cases and relatives from controls. Accuracy and response time are recorded. Cognitive domains assessed: Abstraction and mental flexibility; Attention; Verbal Memory; Face Memory; Spatial Memory; Spatial Processing; Sensory-motor Dexterity; Emotion Processing.
3 secondary outcomes
Clinical Severity
Time frame: Assessed at week 16
Social Function
Time frame: Assessed at week 16
Side Effects
Time frame: Assessed at week 16
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Oct 2016.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Vishwajit Nimgaonkar, MD, PhD principal investigator
University of Pittsburgh
Smita Deshpande, MD principal investigator
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 4 study testing Experimental: Valacyclovir treatment in people with Herpes Simplex and Schizophrenia, run by University of Pittsburgh at 1 site in India.
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 7 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 26 Oct 2016. 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 India. 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 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Cognition (time frame: Assessed at week 16). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 26 Oct 2016.