NCT01639872

Brief Summary

Many individuals with schizophrenia also suffer from marijuana addiction that worsens their problems related to schizophrenia. Most of the medications prescribed for schizophrenia have no effect on reducing marijuana use. Preliminary data suggests that clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic, may limit marijuana use in people diagnosed with schizophrenia, but it is not commonly used due to its side effects and is reserved for people who do not respond to other antipsychotic medications. In the proposed study, 132 individuals who are diagnosed with both schizophrenia and a cannabis use disorder will be randomized to a 12-week treatment course with either clozapine or risperidone (another commonly prescribed antipsychotic medication) to test the hypothesis that patient treated with clozapine will have decreased cannabis use as compared to patients treated with risperidone. Should this study indicate that clozapine will lessen marijuana use in persons diagnosed with schizophrenia more than risperidone, it will provide evidence needed to begin to shift clinical practice toward its use in this population.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
49

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for phase_4 schizophrenia

Timeline
Completed

Started May 2013

Typical duration for phase_4 schizophrenia

Geographic Reach
1 country

9 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 11, 2012

Completed
2 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 13, 2012

Completed
10 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

May 1, 2013

Completed
3.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 29, 2017

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 29, 2017

Completed
2.7 years until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

December 26, 2019

Completed
Last Updated

May 5, 2020

Status Verified

April 1, 2020

Enrollment Period

3.9 years

First QC Date

July 11, 2012

Results QC Date

December 12, 2019

Last Update Submit

April 27, 2020

Conditions

Keywords

SchizophreniaCannabis AbuseCannabis DependenceDual DiagnosisClozapineRisperidone

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Average Over Time of Intensity of Cannabis Use (Used to Evaluate Treatment Efficacy)

    Intensity of cannabis use is obtained each week retrospectively as the number of joints smoked during the prior week (assessed using the Timeline Followback). Mixed models are used to obtain estimates of efficacy from the partial data provided by each subject while adherent to assigned treatment (under the 'missing at random' assumption). The 'explanatory' estimands (target of the mixed model estimation) are defined in terms of population quantities that would have occurred had all subjects remained on assigned treatment throughout the study. The point estimate for each arm is reported under Number.

    12 weeks

  • Average Over Time of Frequency of Cannabis Use

    Frequency of cannabis use is obtained each week retrospectively as the number of days of cannabis use during the prior week (assessed using the Timeline Followback). Mixed models are used to obtain estimates of efficacy from the partial data provided by each subject while adherent to assigned treatment (under the 'missing at random' assumption). The 'explanatory' estimands (target of the mixed model estimation) are defined in terms of population quantities that would have occurred had all subjects remained on assigned treatment throughout the study. The point estimate for each arm is reported under Number.

    12 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Clozapine

EXPERIMENTAL

The blinded CLOZ will be titrated on a recommended standard schedule, supervised by a study physician (or other prescriber) who can make the necessary adjustments to account for symptom control and tolerability. The titration is recommended to begin at 12.5 mg and then increase while the open-label base antipsychotic is tapered with a recommended goal of decreasing the base antipsychotic by 25% each week. If clinically tolerated, the target dose of CLOZ is 400 mg/day.

Drug: Clozapine

Risperidone

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The blinded RISP will also be titrated in the first weeks, using a titration schedule, with a target dose of 4 mg/day, while the open label base antipsychotic is tapered in a similar fashion.

Drug: Risperidone

Interventions

Clozapine: target dose of 400mg per day with a maximum dose of 550mg per day

Also known as: Clozaril
Clozapine

Clozapine: target dose of 4mg per day with a maximum dose of 6mg per day

Also known as: Risperdal
Risperidone

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 55 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia
  • Clinical diagnosis of a cannabis use disorder (abuse or dependence)

You may not qualify if:

  • Pregnant,trying to become pregnant or nursing
  • History of a seizure disorder
  • Current treatment with clozapine or risperidone
  • Contraindication to treatment with clozapine or risperidone

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (9)

CNS Network Inc

Garden Grove, California, 92845, United States

Location

Pacific Research Partners

Oakland, California, 94607, United States

Location

University of Miami

Miami, Florida, 33136, United States

Location

Unversity of Massachusetts Medical School

Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, United States

Location

Michigan State University / Cherry Street Health Services

Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, United States

Location

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03756, United States

Location

University of North Carolina/UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health

Raleigh, North Carolina, 27610, United States

Location

University of South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina, 29203, United States

Location

Rutland Regional Medical Center

Rutland, Vermont, 05701, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

SchizophreniaMarijuana Abuse

Interventions

ClozapineRisperidone

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic DisordersMental DisordersSubstance-Related DisordersChemically-Induced Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

DibenzazepinesHeterocyclic Compounds, 3-RingHeterocyclic Compounds, Fused-RingHeterocyclic CompoundsPyrimidinonesPyrimidinesHeterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring

Results Point of Contact

Title
Dr. Mary Brunette
Organization
Psychopharmacology Research Group

Study Officials

  • Alan I Green, MD

    Dartmouth College

    STUDY CHAIR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
No
Restrictive Agreement
No

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 4
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 11, 2012

First Posted

July 13, 2012

Study Start

May 1, 2013

Primary Completion

March 29, 2017

Study Completion

March 29, 2017

Last Updated

May 5, 2020

Results First Posted

December 26, 2019

Record last verified: 2020-04

Locations