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Evaluating Isradipine for Cognitive Enhancement in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder

A Molecular Approach to Treat Cognition in Schizophrenia: Ca2+ Channel Blockade

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01658150
Enrollment
11
Registered
2012-08-06
Start date
2012-09-30
Completion date
2018-01-02
Last updated
2018-12-05

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

Conditions

Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder

Keywords

Cognition, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective disorder

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of the drug isradipine for cognitive enhancement in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

Detailed description

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of the drug isradipine for cognitive enhancement in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Incomplete treatment response can be common in these disorders. While there are medications that are effective at treating positive symptoms, some other symptoms of the disorders are often left only partially treated (cognitive impairment and negative symptoms). This study will begin to address if the medication isradipine might help to treat some of the cognitive problems associated with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Isradipine is a medication that acts by blocking a specific type of receptor in the brain called a calcium channel. It is currently approved by the FDA for hypertension.

Interventions

Isradipine is a medication that acts by blocking a specific type of receptor in the brain called a calcium channel

Sponsors

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
CollaboratorOTHER
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age 18-60 * DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder diagnosis * Residual phase of illness criteria met at screen and baseline as defined by item scores of equal to or less than 4 on each of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) hallucinatory behavior, unusual thought content, conceptual disorganization items * Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) equal to or less than 12 * Baseline Clinician Administered Scale for Mania (CARS-M) score of less than 5 * Simpson Angus Scale (SAS) total score equal to or less than 6 * Treatment with at least one but no more than two stably-dosed second-generation antipsychotic medication (other than clozapine) for equal to or greater than 2 months and no changes planned over the 4-week study period

Exclusion criteria

* History of CNS trauma, neurological disorder, ADHD, mental retardation, learning disability, or other non-schizophrenic cause of cognitive impairment * DSM-IV diagnosis of substance abuse/dependence within 3 months * Pregnant women or women of childbearing age who are not using a medically accepted means of contraception * Women who are breastfeeding * Active, unstable medical problem that may interfere with cognition * Current treatment for hypertension * Uncontrolled hypertension * Any drug known to interact with isradipine * History of GI strictures * History of heart disease * Abnormal lab or ECG at screen * Significant suicidal ideation at baseline (HRSD item 3\>2) * ECT treatment within 12 months

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) Change in Neurocognitive/Functional Measuresbaseline and week 4MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) as measure of Neurocognitive/Functional Measures is a standardized battery designed to measure cognitive functioning in people with schizophrenia. The MCCB is represented as a composite T score. A t score is a type of standard score computed by multiplying a z-score (how many standard deviations an element is from the mean) by 10 and adding 50.
UPSA Communication Scorebaseline and week 4UCSD Performance Skills Assessment (UPSA) - The UPSA is performance-based measure of real-world daily functioning abilities. Participants receive scores for the communication subscale (range = 0-20), with higher score indicating better neurocognitive functioning
Quality of Life (QoL) Scalebaseline and Week 4The QoL is a measure of the perceived satisfaction in an individual's daily life. This 16-item self-report measure is rated on a 7-point scale, ranging from 1 (terrible) to 7 (delighted), with a total score range from 16-112, where higher scores indicate higher satisfaction with daily life.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants With Normal Complete Blood Count (CBC)baseline and week 4Number of participants with normal CBC to confirm inclusion into study at baseline and week 4
Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS)baseline and Week 4Mean change for abnormal involuntary movements throughout the study. The AIMS is a physician-administered scale of abnormal involuntary movements. AIMS consists of 10 items, each defined by a series of movements. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 (not observed) to 4 (severe), with a total score range from 0-40, where higher scores indicate abnormal involuntary movements.
Modified Simpson Angus Scale (MSAS)baseline and week 4Mean change for drug-induced disordered movement throughout the study. The MSAS is a physician-administered scale of abnormal drug-induced movements. MSAS consists of 6 items, each defined by a series of movements. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale, ranging form 0 (not observed) to 4 (most severe), with a total range of 0-24, where higher scores indicate drug-induced disordered movement.
Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI)up to 4 weeksa 21-question multiple choice, self-report inventory that is used for measuring the severity of suicidal ideation. Scoring is from a 0 (not at all) to 3 (severe) with a total score range of 0-63. Higher total scores indicate more severe suicidal ideation symptoms.
Number of Participants With Suicidal Acknowledgmentsup to 4 weeksNumber of participants with Suicidal acknowledgements based on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scales (C-SSRS) - Full range from 0 (low intensity suicidal ideation to 9 (high intensity suicidal ideation).
Mean Change in PRISE Adverse Event Checklist Scoreup to 4 weeksThe PRISE is a physician-administered checklist of adverse events. PRISE contains 33 items, each defined by an adverse event. Each item is rated on a 3-point scale, ranging from 0 (not present) to 2 (distressing), with a total score range from 0-66, where higher scores indicate more adverse events. Mean change for adverse events at week 4 as compared to baseline
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)up to 4 weeksMean change for positive symptoms throughout the study. BPRS consists of 18 items, each defined by a series of symptoms. Each item is rated on a 7-point scale, ranging from 1 (not observed) to 7 (very severe), with a total score range from 18-126, where higher scores indicate psychiatric symptoms.
Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS)up to 4 weeksMean change of negative symptoms throughout the study. SANS consists of 22 items, each defined by a series of symptoms. Each item is rated on a 6-point scale, ranging from 0 (no presence) to 5 (severe presence), with a total range of 0-110, where higher scores indicate negative symptoms.
Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD)up to 4 weeksMean change of symptoms of depression throughout the study. HRSD consists of 14 items, each defined by a series of symptoms. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 (not present) to 4 (severe), with a total score range of 0-56, where higher score indicates more depressive symptoms
Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI)up to 4 weeksMean change of clinical impression of severity of psychiatric illness throughout the study. CGI consists of one item, defined by severity of illness. It is rated on a 7-point scale, ranging from 1 (normal, not at all ill) to 7 (among the most extremely ill patients), with a total range score of 1-7, where higher score indicates severity of illness.
Clinician Administered Rating Scale for Mania (CARS-M)up to 4 weeksMean change of symptoms of mania throughout the study. CARS-M contains 14 items rated from 0 (absent) to 5 (present) and one item scored 0 to 4, with total range from 0 to 74, where higher score indicates manic symptoms.
Number of Participants With a Confirmed SCID-IVbaselineNumber of participants with confirm diagnosis for inclusion into study using the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV (SCID-IV)
Number of Participants With Normal ECGbaseline and week 4Number of participants with normal ECG readings to confirm inclusion into study and compared at week 4 to baseline
Number of Participants With Normal Chemistry Panelbaseline and week 4Number of participants with normal chemistry panel to confirm inclusion into study at baseline and week

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Isradipine
Isradipine is a medication that acts by blocking a specific type of receptor in the brain called a calcium channel. Isradipine as utilized in this trial will be administered twice daily. Isradipine will be titrated as follows: baseline (week 0) 5 mg/day BID; Week 2 increase to 10 mg/day BID if 5 mg was well-tolerated. Dosing will be flexible based on side effects with a maximum=10 mg/day. If 5 mg cannot be tolerated, the subject will be discontinued.
11
Total11

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject1

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicIsradipine
Age, Continuous37.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.8
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
2 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
9 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
3 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
6 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
1 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
4 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
7 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 11
other
Total, other adverse events
11 / 11
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 11

Outcome results

Primary

MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) Change in Neurocognitive/Functional Measures

MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) as measure of Neurocognitive/Functional Measures is a standardized battery designed to measure cognitive functioning in people with schizophrenia. The MCCB is represented as a composite T score. A t score is a type of standard score computed by multiplying a z-score (how many standard deviations an element is from the mean) by 10 and adding 50.

Time frame: baseline and week 4

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
IsradipineMATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) Change in Neurocognitive/Functional MeasuresBaseline39.8 z-scoreStandard Deviation 13.2
IsradipineMATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) Change in Neurocognitive/Functional MeasuresWeek 438.2 z-scoreStandard Deviation 12.6
Primary

Quality of Life (QoL) Scale

The QoL is a measure of the perceived satisfaction in an individual's daily life. This 16-item self-report measure is rated on a 7-point scale, ranging from 1 (terrible) to 7 (delighted), with a total score range from 16-112, where higher scores indicate higher satisfaction with daily life.

Time frame: baseline and Week 4

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
IsradipineQuality of Life (QoL) ScaleBaseline96.5 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 15.5
IsradipineQuality of Life (QoL) ScaleWeek 493.0 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 16.9
Primary

UPSA Communication Score

UCSD Performance Skills Assessment (UPSA) - The UPSA is performance-based measure of real-world daily functioning abilities. Participants receive scores for the communication subscale (range = 0-20), with higher score indicating better neurocognitive functioning

Time frame: baseline and week 4

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
IsradipineUPSA Communication Scorebaseline15.3 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.8
IsradipineUPSA Communication Scoreweek 416.5 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2
Secondary

Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS)

Mean change for abnormal involuntary movements throughout the study. The AIMS is a physician-administered scale of abnormal involuntary movements. AIMS consists of 10 items, each defined by a series of movements. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 (not observed) to 4 (severe), with a total score range from 0-40, where higher scores indicate abnormal involuntary movements.

Time frame: baseline and Week 4

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
IsradipineAbnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS)0.7 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.9
Secondary

Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI)

a 21-question multiple choice, self-report inventory that is used for measuring the severity of suicidal ideation. Scoring is from a 0 (not at all) to 3 (severe) with a total score range of 0-63. Higher total scores indicate more severe suicidal ideation symptoms.

Time frame: up to 4 weeks

Population: Data not collected.

Secondary

Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)

Mean change for positive symptoms throughout the study. BPRS consists of 18 items, each defined by a series of symptoms. Each item is rated on a 7-point scale, ranging from 1 (not observed) to 7 (very severe), with a total score range from 18-126, where higher scores indicate psychiatric symptoms.

Time frame: up to 4 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
IsradipineBrief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)-1.0 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.5
Secondary

Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI)

Mean change of clinical impression of severity of psychiatric illness throughout the study. CGI consists of one item, defined by severity of illness. It is rated on a 7-point scale, ranging from 1 (normal, not at all ill) to 7 (among the most extremely ill patients), with a total range score of 1-7, where higher score indicates severity of illness.

Time frame: up to 4 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
IsradipineClinical Global Impression Scale (CGI)-0.2 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.4
Secondary

Clinician Administered Rating Scale for Mania (CARS-M)

Mean change of symptoms of mania throughout the study. CARS-M contains 14 items rated from 0 (absent) to 5 (present) and one item scored 0 to 4, with total range from 0 to 74, where higher score indicates manic symptoms.

Time frame: up to 4 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
IsradipineClinician Administered Rating Scale for Mania (CARS-M)0 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.7
Secondary

Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD)

Mean change of symptoms of depression throughout the study. HRSD consists of 14 items, each defined by a series of symptoms. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 (not present) to 4 (severe), with a total score range of 0-56, where higher score indicates more depressive symptoms

Time frame: up to 4 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
IsradipineHamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD)-0.6 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.8
Secondary

Mean Change in PRISE Adverse Event Checklist Score

The PRISE is a physician-administered checklist of adverse events. PRISE contains 33 items, each defined by an adverse event. Each item is rated on a 3-point scale, ranging from 0 (not present) to 2 (distressing), with a total score range from 0-66, where higher scores indicate more adverse events. Mean change for adverse events at week 4 as compared to baseline

Time frame: up to 4 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
IsradipineMean Change in PRISE Adverse Event Checklist Score-0.7 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.7
Secondary

Modified Simpson Angus Scale (MSAS)

Mean change for drug-induced disordered movement throughout the study. The MSAS is a physician-administered scale of abnormal drug-induced movements. MSAS consists of 6 items, each defined by a series of movements. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale, ranging form 0 (not observed) to 4 (most severe), with a total range of 0-24, where higher scores indicate drug-induced disordered movement.

Time frame: baseline and week 4

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
IsradipineModified Simpson Angus Scale (MSAS)-0.3 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.5
Secondary

Number of Participants With a Confirmed SCID-IV

Number of participants with confirm diagnosis for inclusion into study using the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV (SCID-IV)

Time frame: baseline

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
IsradipineNumber of Participants With a Confirmed SCID-IV10 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With Normal Chemistry Panel

Number of participants with normal chemistry panel to confirm inclusion into study at baseline and week

Time frame: baseline and week 4

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
IsradipineNumber of Participants With Normal Chemistry PanelBaseline10 Participants
IsradipineNumber of Participants With Normal Chemistry PanelWeek 410 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With Normal Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Number of participants with normal CBC to confirm inclusion into study at baseline and week 4

Time frame: baseline and week 4

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
IsradipineNumber of Participants With Normal Complete Blood Count (CBC)Baseline10 Participants
IsradipineNumber of Participants With Normal Complete Blood Count (CBC)Week 410 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With Normal ECG

Number of participants with normal ECG readings to confirm inclusion into study and compared at week 4 to baseline

Time frame: baseline and week 4

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
IsradipineNumber of Participants With Normal ECGBaseline10 Participants
IsradipineNumber of Participants With Normal ECGWeek 410 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With Suicidal Acknowledgments

Number of participants with Suicidal acknowledgements based on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scales (C-SSRS) - Full range from 0 (low intensity suicidal ideation to 9 (high intensity suicidal ideation).

Time frame: up to 4 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
IsradipineNumber of Participants With Suicidal Acknowledgments0 Participants
Secondary

Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS)

Mean change of negative symptoms throughout the study. SANS consists of 22 items, each defined by a series of symptoms. Each item is rated on a 6-point scale, ranging from 0 (no presence) to 5 (severe presence), with a total range of 0-110, where higher scores indicate negative symptoms.

Time frame: up to 4 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
IsradipineScale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS)-1.6 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.3

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026