Using d-cycloserine to increase the effects of exposure for children's general fears

d-cycloserine vs placebo combined with in-vivo exposure in the reduction of specific fears among children with broad-based anxiety disorders

Status

Completed

Phases

Phase 4

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12611000660987

Enrollment

100

Registered

2011-06-29

Start date

2011-08-15

Completion date

2012-12-01

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

The trial aims to test the efficacy of d-cycloserine (DCS) to augment the effects of in-vivo exposure for children's fears. It is hypothesised that anxious children who receive in-vivo exposure for a specific fear will show reductions in that fear and that use of DCS will increase the rate and extent of fear reduction. Children will receive 5 individual sessions of graduated exposure for a key, specific fear and will take either DCS (50 mg) or placebo approx 60 minutes before exposure.

Interventions

d-cycloserine - 50 mg oral capsules, taken on 5 weekly occasions, approximately 60 minutes prior to each initial exposure in-vivo exposure - 5 weekly sessions of approximately 30 minutes with a therapist. Exposure is conducted hierarchically during sessions to main identified fear.

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Intervention model

Parallel

Primary purpose

Treatment

Masking

Blinded (masking used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

7 Years to 14 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

DSM diagnosis of anxiety disorder Availability of specific fear

Exclusion criteria

Psychotic experiences Suicidal risk Kidney disease Liver disease Epilepsy Prior allergic reaction to antibiotics

Outcome results