Efficacy Study of Strattera for Treating Attention Disorders in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - Full Text View

Purpose

Atomoxetine is the only medication that is currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults. It has gained recent interest as an alternative medication for treating attentional problems related to traumatic brain injury (TBI), but it's effectiveness in this population has not been studied. There are a number of advantages of Atomoxetine over traditional neuro-stimulant medications currently used for attentional disorders after traumatic brain injury. This study will use a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design to investigate the efficacy of atomoxetine to improve attention, behavioral function, and depression in adults with TBI

Condition	Intervention
Traumatic Brain INjury	Drug: atomoxetine Drug: placebo


Study Type:	Interventional
Study Design:	Allocation: Randomized Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment Masking: Double Blind (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title:	Strattera(Atomoxetine) for the Treatment of Attention Disorders in Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury

Resource links provided by NLM:

MedlinePlus related topics: Traumatic Brain Injury

Drug Information available for: Atomoxetine hydrochloride Atomoxetine

U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by Cynthia Harrison-Felix, PhD, Craig Hospital:

Primary Outcome Measures:

CDR Power of Attention [ Time Frame: Post treatment ]
Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) Computerized Cognitive Assessment System [19] is comprised of a battery of computer-controlled tasks administered on a laptop computer with parallel forms of the tests being presented on each testing session. The Power of Attention factor of the CDR was selected as the primary outcome measure because of its strong psychometric properties in other drug studies with cognitively compromised populations.

Instead of utilizing a t-test to compare treatment and control groups, treatment and control groups for both primary and secondary outcomes were compared utilizing an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model in which repeat baseline measures taken on each respective outcome served as a covariate. This method controls for any differences that may exist between the groups at baseline. Model assumptions for conducting an ANCOVA were investigated for all primary and secondary analyses, where no violations of model assumptions were detected. Additionally,
Stroop Test Interference T-score [ Time Frame: Post treatment ]
The Stroop Color and Word Test is frequently used to study deficits of attention and executive function in individuals with TBI, and has adequate test-retest reliability. At each administration, the following scores were obtained, Word Reading, Colour Naming and Interference. Raw scores were converted to demographically-adjusted T-scores using Golden and Freshwater norm.
Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Self-Report Scale Summary Score [ Time Frame: Post treatment ]
The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) is a self-report questionnaire that consists of questions involving the 18-items of the The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV- Text Revision (TR) criteria for ADHD that rate symptoms on a Likert scale ranging from 0-4 based on the frequency of symptoms ("never", "rarely", "sometimes", "often", and "very often"). A previous study of the ASRS found the self-report to be both valid (Cronbach's alpha =.88) and reliable (ICC=.84). Scores on the 18 items were summed for a total ASRS score.

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Neurobehavioral Functioning Inventory Depression Subscale [ Time Frame: Post treatment ]
Neurobehavioral Functioning Inventory (NFI) was developed as a clinical and research tool to quantify a variety of post-injury behaviours and symptoms characteristic of neurologic disability and encountered in daily life. The inventory is comprised of 76 items organized into six analytically derived factor scales: Depression, Somatic, Memory/Attention, Communication, Aggression, and Motor. Respondents are asked to rate items as occurring "never", "rarely", "sometimes", "often", or "always". Using the standardized scoring procedures outlined in the NFI Manual, T-scores were calculated for the Depression sub-scale. Lower T-score indicates less depressive symptomotology.


Enrollment:	60
Study Start Date:	January 2008
Study Completion Date:	March 2012
Primary Completion Date:	March 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Arms	Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Atomoxetine 40mg atomoxetine twice a day for 2 weeks	Drug: atomoxetine Other Name: strattera
Placebo Comparator: placebo Placebo twice a day for two weeks	Drug: placebo

Eligibility


Ages Eligible for Study:	18 Years to 65 Years (Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study:	All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

History of TBI
Moderate to severe TBI as indicated by Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) score of 12 or less; or Post Traumatic Amnesia (PTA) of seven days or more
at least one year post injury
between the ages of 18-65 (inclusive)
symptoms consistent with attentional dysfunction
consent to participate in study

Exclusion Criteria:

history of any conditions that would prohibit standard neuropsychological testing
non-English speaking (to the extent that would limit ability to complete study measures)
prior history of significant psychiatric illness requiring hospitalization
epilepsy
cardiovascular disease or risks including: dysrhythmias, angina, myocardial infarction, uncontrolled hypertension, valvular heart disease including mitral valve prolapse
use of any monoamine oxidase inhibitor or any other drug affecting brain monoamine concentrations
severe renal or hepatic impairment
pregnant or lactating

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00702364

Locations


United States, Colorado
Craig Hospital
Englewood, Colorado, United States, 80113

Sponsors and Collaborators

Craig Hospital

Investigators


Principal Investigator:	David L Ripley, MD	Craig Hospital
Principal Investigator:	Cindy Harrison-Felix, PhD	Craig Hospital

More Information


Responsible Party:	Cynthia Harrison-Felix, PhD, Assistant Director of Research, Craig Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT00702364 History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers:	H133A07022R01
Study First Received:	June 18, 2008
Results First Received:	September 3, 2013
Last Updated:	August 28, 2014

Keywords provided by Cynthia Harrison-Felix, PhD, Craig Hospital:


Attention Traumatic Brain INjury Atomoxetine Strattera

Additional relevant MeSH terms:


Wounds and Injuries Brain Injuries Cognition Disorders Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Craniocerebral Trauma Trauma, Nervous System Neurocognitive Disorders	Mental Disorders Atomoxetine Hydrochloride Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors Membrane Transport Modulators Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Adrenergic Agents Neurotransmitter Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on July 21, 2017