A Phase 2 interventional study of 20mg daily citalopram and Placebo in Huntington Disease, Chorea and Executive Dysfunction, sponsored by University of Iowa. Completed at 3 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2013-03-13.
Sponsored by University of Iowa · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
This research plan proposes to conduct a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial in 36 adults with mild Huntington's disease (HD) to address the following research aims:
Specific Aims:
Main Hypotheses:
293 studies on the registry are indexed under Huntington Disease; 54 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 33 is below the median of 40 across 207 interventional studies indexed under Huntington Disease.
Browse Huntington Disease studies →University of Iowa is the lead sponsor of 279 studies on the registry; 33 are open to participants now.
Of its 45 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 40 (89%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
It is important to note that participants who are unable to receive an MRI scan may still participate in this study
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
20mg daily citalopram
Drug: 20mg daily citalopram
Matching daily placebo
Drug: Placebo
a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment administered over 16 weeks
Also known as: Celexa
a daily matching placebo administered over 16 weeks
Also known as: Matching daily placebo
Executive Function Composite Score Comparing Visit 2 (Week 0) to Visits 5 (Week 12) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort.
Full Scale Name: The Executive Composite Score (ECS). Definition: Subscales were averaged to compute this composite total score. The ECS is the weighted average of performance on 6 subtests of executive function, including (1) the Controlled Oral Word Association Test, (2) Symbol Digit Modalities test; (3) Stroop Color Word Test (Interference Trial), (4) Trail Making test (Part B), (5) Letter-Number Sequencing, and (6) Animal Naming. Construct Measured: Thinking tasks involving planning, working memory, attention, problem solving, verbal reasoning, inhibition, mental flexibility, and task switching. ECS Scale Range: The ECS score ranges from -5 to +5 on a standardized (Z) score scale, where lower scores indicate poorer performance on executive functioning tasks. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in executive functioning performance from visit 2 (week 0) to the weighted average of visits 5 (week 12) \& 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
Time frame: after 15 weeks of treatment
Letter Number Sequencing Score Comparing Visit 2 (Week 0) to Visits 5 (Week 12) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort
Full Scale Name: Letter Number Sequencing (LNS) subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) third edition. Definition: LNS is a task that requires the reordering of an initially unordered set of letters and numbers. Construct Measured: Working memory. LNS Score Range: Raw scores may range from 0 to 21, where lower scores indicate poorer performance in working memory. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in working memory performance from visit 2 (week 0) to the weighted average of visits 5 (week 12) \& 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
Time frame: after 15 weeks of treatment
Semantic Fluency Score Comparing Visit 2 (Week 0) to Visits 5 (Week 12) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort
Semantic Fluency Score. Definition: The Semantic Fluency Score is the number of words a person can produce given a category, including naming (1) Animal names, (2) Fruit names, (3) Boy names, (4) Girl names, and (5) Vegetable names. Construct Measured: Working memory and verbal initiation. Scale Range: The Semantic Fluency Score ranges from -5 to +5 on a standardized (Z) score scale, where lower scores indicate poorer performance on working memory tasks. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in working memory performance from visit 2 (week 0) where patients named fruit names to the weighted average of visits 5 (week 12) \& 6 (week 15) where patients named girl names and vegetable names respectively for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
Time frame: after 15 weeks of treatment
Symbol-Digit Modalities Score Comparing Visit 2 (Week 0) to Visits 5 (Week 12) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort
Full Scale Name: The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Definition: The SDMT screens for organic cerebral dysfunction by having the examinee use a reference key to pair specific numbers with given geometric figures in 90 seconds. Construct Measured: Attention, processing speed, and working memory. SDMT Scale Range: Raw scores may range from 0 to 110, where lower scores indicate poorer performance. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in performance from visit 2 (week 0) to the weighted average of visits 5 (week 12) \& 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
Time frame: after 15 weeks of treatment
Verbal Fluency Score Comparing Visit 2 (Week 0) to Visits 5 (Week 12) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort
Full Scale Name: The Verbal Fluency Score (VFC). Definition: The VFC is the number of words a person can produce given a letter, including (1) Naming words that start with F, A, and S; (2) naming words that start with K, W, and R; (3) naming words that start with V, I, and P; (4) naming words that start with O, G, and B; (5) naming words that start with E, N, and T; and (6) naming words that start with J, C, and S. Construct Measured: Verbal initiation and flexibility. Scale Range: The Verbal Fluency Composite Score ranges from -5 to +5 on a standardized (Z) score scale, where lower scores indicate poorer performance. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in verbal initiation and flexibility from visit 2 (week 0) where patients named words starting with O, G, and B to the weighted average of visits 5 (week 12) and 6 (week 15) where patients named words starting with E, N, and T, and J, C, and S respectively for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
Time frame: after 15 weeks of treatment
Stroop Interference Score Comparing Visit 2 (Week 0) to Visits 5 (Week 12) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort
Full Scale Name: Stroop Interference subtest from The Stroop Color and Word Test. Definition: Participants are asked to name the ink color in which a word is printed when the word itself (which is irrelevant to the task) is the name of a different color rather than the same color. For example, participants may be asked to say "red" to the word blue printed in red ink. Constructs Measured: Selective attention, response inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and processing speed. Scale Range: The Stroop Interference score ranges from -5 to +5 on a standardized (Z) score scale, where lower scores indicate poorer performance. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in attention and processing speed performance from visit 2 (week 0) to the weighted average of visits 5 (week 12) and 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
Time frame: after 15 weeks of treatment
Trails B Score Comparing Visit 2 (Week 0) to Visits 5 (Week 12) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort
Full Scale Name: Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B). Definition: The TMT-B test requires participants to "connect-the-dots" of 25 consecutive targets on a sheet of paper where the subject alternates between numbers and letters, going in both numerical and alphabetical order. Constructs Measured: Attention, set shifting, and processing speed. Scale range: The TMT-B score ranges from -5 to +5 on a standardized (Z) score scale, where lower scores indicate poorer performance. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in attention and processing speed performance from visit 2 (week 0) to the weighted average of visits 5 (week 12) and 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
Time frame: after 15 weeks of treatment
Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression Comparing Screening (Intake Visit) to Visit 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort
Full Scale Name: Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Definition: The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression is a clinician-administered multiple item questionnaire used to provide an indication of depression. Construct Measured: Depression. HAM-D Score Range: Raw scores may range from 0 to 54, where higher scores indicate worsening mood. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in mood from screening (intake visit) to visit 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
Time frame: after 15 weeks of treatment
Total Functional Capacity Score Comparing Baseline (Week -4) to Visits 4 (Week 6) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort
Full Scale Name: The Total Functional Capacity (TFC) subscale from the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS). Definition: The TFC is a score that classifies five stages of Huntington's Disease and five levels of function in the domains of workplace, finances, domestic chores, activities of daily living and requirements for unskilled or skilled care. Construct Measured: Activities of Daily Living. Scale Range: The TFC score ranges from 0 to 13, where lower scores indicate poorer performance in activities of daily living. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in TFC performance from Baseline (week -4) to the weighted average of visits 4 (week 6) and 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
Time frame: after 15 weeks of treatment
Subgroup Analysis of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale Comparing Screening (Intake Visit) to Visit 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort
Full Scale Name: Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Definition: The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression is a clinician-administered multiple item questionnaire used to provide an indication of depression. Construct Measured: Depression. HAM-D Score Range: Raw scores may range from 0 to 54, where higher scores indicate worsening mood. Change Calculation Details: This analysis was restricted to a subgroup and, accordingly, does not reflect the total number of participants as reported in the Participant Flow. This analysis compares change in mood from screening (intake visit) to visit 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
Time frame: after 15 weeks of treatment
Thirty-six individuals were screened and 33 participants were randomized between May 2007 and April 2011 Participants were recruited using advertisements, by speaking at HD events, through local clinics and through two HD registries: The University of Iowa HD registry and the National HD Research Roster (Indiana).
| Milestone | Citalopram | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Started | 17 | 16 |
| Completed | 16 | 15 |
| Not completed | 1 | 1 |
| Withdrew: Protocol violation | 1 | 0 |
| Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject | 0 | 1 |
Full Scale Name: The Executive Composite Score (ECS). Definition: Subscales were averaged to compute this composite total score. The ECS is the weighted average of performance on 6 subtests of executive function, including (1) the Controlled Oral Word Association Test, (2) Symbol Digit Modalities test; (3) Stroop Color Word Test (Interference Trial), (4) Trail Making test (Part B), (5) Letter-Number Sequencing, and (6) Animal Naming. Construct Measured: Thinking tasks involving planning, working memory, attention, problem solving, verbal reasoning, inhibition, mental flexibility, and task switching. ECS Scale Range: The ECS score ranges from -5 to +5 on a standardized (Z) score scale, where lower scores indicate poorer performance on executive functioning tasks. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in executive functioning performance from visit 2 (week 0) to the weighted average of visits 5 (week 12) \& 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
| units on a scale | Citalopram | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Function Composite Score Comparing Visit 2 (Week 0) to Visits 5 (Week 12) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort. | 0.005 ± 0.067 | 0.172 ± 0.071 |
Full Scale Name: Letter Number Sequencing (LNS) subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) third edition. Definition: LNS is a task that requires the reordering of an initially unordered set of letters and numbers. Construct Measured: Working memory. LNS Score Range: Raw scores may range from 0 to 21, where lower scores indicate poorer performance in working memory. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in working memory performance from visit 2 (week 0) to the weighted average of visits 5 (week 12) \& 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
| units on a scale | Citalopram | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Letter Number Sequencing Score Comparing Visit 2 (Week 0) to Visits 5 (Week 12) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort | -0.113 ± 0.113 | 0.225 ± 0.124 |
Semantic Fluency Score. Definition: The Semantic Fluency Score is the number of words a person can produce given a category, including naming (1) Animal names, (2) Fruit names, (3) Boy names, (4) Girl names, and (5) Vegetable names. Construct Measured: Working memory and verbal initiation. Scale Range: The Semantic Fluency Score ranges from -5 to +5 on a standardized (Z) score scale, where lower scores indicate poorer performance on working memory tasks. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in working memory performance from visit 2 (week 0) where patients named fruit names to the weighted average of visits 5 (week 12) \& 6 (week 15) where patients named girl names and vegetable names respectively for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
| units on a scale | Citalopram | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Semantic Fluency Score Comparing Visit 2 (Week 0) to Visits 5 (Week 12) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort | 0.386 ± 0.192 | 0.664 ± 0.187 |
Full Scale Name: The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Definition: The SDMT screens for organic cerebral dysfunction by having the examinee use a reference key to pair specific numbers with given geometric figures in 90 seconds. Construct Measured: Attention, processing speed, and working memory. SDMT Scale Range: Raw scores may range from 0 to 110, where lower scores indicate poorer performance. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in performance from visit 2 (week 0) to the weighted average of visits 5 (week 12) \& 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
| units on a scale | Citalopram | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol-Digit Modalities Score Comparing Visit 2 (Week 0) to Visits 5 (Week 12) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort | -0.227 ± 0.113 | -0.170 ± 0.103 |
Full Scale Name: The Verbal Fluency Score (VFC). Definition: The VFC is the number of words a person can produce given a letter, including (1) Naming words that start with F, A, and S; (2) naming words that start with K, W, and R; (3) naming words that start with V, I, and P; (4) naming words that start with O, G, and B; (5) naming words that start with E, N, and T; and (6) naming words that start with J, C, and S. Construct Measured: Verbal initiation and flexibility. Scale Range: The Verbal Fluency Composite Score ranges from -5 to +5 on a standardized (Z) score scale, where lower scores indicate poorer performance. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in verbal initiation and flexibility from visit 2 (week 0) where patients named words starting with O, G, and B to the weighted average of visits 5 (week 12) and 6 (week 15) where patients named words starting with E, N, and T, and J, C, and S respectively for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
| units on a scale | Citalopram | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Fluency Score Comparing Visit 2 (Week 0) to Visits 5 (Week 12) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort | 0.140 ± 0.109 | 0.071 ± 0.103 |
Full Scale Name: Stroop Interference subtest from The Stroop Color and Word Test. Definition: Participants are asked to name the ink color in which a word is printed when the word itself (which is irrelevant to the task) is the name of a different color rather than the same color. For example, participants may be asked to say "red" to the word blue printed in red ink. Constructs Measured: Selective attention, response inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and processing speed. Scale Range: The Stroop Interference score ranges from -5 to +5 on a standardized (Z) score scale, where lower scores indicate poorer performance. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in attention and processing speed performance from visit 2 (week 0) to the weighted average of visits 5 (week 12) and 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
| units on a scale | Citalopram | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Stroop Interference Score Comparing Visit 2 (Week 0) to Visits 5 (Week 12) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort | -0.256 ± 0.122 | -0.046 ± 0.123 |
Full Scale Name: Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B). Definition: The TMT-B test requires participants to "connect-the-dots" of 25 consecutive targets on a sheet of paper where the subject alternates between numbers and letters, going in both numerical and alphabetical order. Constructs Measured: Attention, set shifting, and processing speed. Scale range: The TMT-B score ranges from -5 to +5 on a standardized (Z) score scale, where lower scores indicate poorer performance. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in attention and processing speed performance from visit 2 (week 0) to the weighted average of visits 5 (week 12) and 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
| units on a scale | Citalopram | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Trails B Score Comparing Visit 2 (Week 0) to Visits 5 (Week 12) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort | 0.087 ± 0.273 | 0.405 ± 0.397 |
Full Scale Name: Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Definition: The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression is a clinician-administered multiple item questionnaire used to provide an indication of depression. Construct Measured: Depression. HAM-D Score Range: Raw scores may range from 0 to 54, where higher scores indicate worsening mood. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in mood from screening (intake visit) to visit 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
| units on a scale | Citalopram | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression Comparing Screening (Intake Visit) to Visit 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort | -0.67 ± 0.76 | 1.23 ± 0.89 |
Full Scale Name: The Total Functional Capacity (TFC) subscale from the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS). Definition: The TFC is a score that classifies five stages of Huntington's Disease and five levels of function in the domains of workplace, finances, domestic chores, activities of daily living and requirements for unskilled or skilled care. Construct Measured: Activities of Daily Living. Scale Range: The TFC score ranges from 0 to 13, where lower scores indicate poorer performance in activities of daily living. Change Calculation Details: Compares change in TFC performance from Baseline (week -4) to the weighted average of visits 4 (week 6) and 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
| units on a scale | Citalopram | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Total Functional Capacity Score Comparing Baseline (Week -4) to Visits 4 (Week 6) & 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort | -0.54 ± 0.46 | -0.06 ± 0.50 |
Full Scale Name: Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Definition: The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression is a clinician-administered multiple item questionnaire used to provide an indication of depression. Construct Measured: Depression. HAM-D Score Range: Raw scores may range from 0 to 54, where higher scores indicate worsening mood. Change Calculation Details: This analysis was restricted to a subgroup and, accordingly, does not reflect the total number of participants as reported in the Participant Flow. This analysis compares change in mood from screening (intake visit) to visit 6 (week 15) for the citalopram versus placebo cohort.
| units on a scale | Citalopram | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Subgroup Analysis of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale Comparing Screening (Intake Visit) to Visit 6 (Week 15) for the Citalopram Cohort Versus Placebo Cohort | -0.10 ± 0.85 | 1.50 ± 0.9 |
Collected over A systematic assessment of adverse experiences was captured at every encounter beginning at Visit 2 (week 0) and continuing through Visit 7 (week 16) for the randomized treatment vs. placebo period.. Non-serious events are listed at a 1% frequency threshold.
| Group | Deaths | Serious | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citalopram | — | 1/17 (5.9%) | 6/17 (35.3%) |
| Placebo | — | 2/16 (12.5%) | 3/16 (18.8%) |
| Event | Citalopram | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| worsening depression with suicidal ideationPsychiatric disorders | 1/17 | 2/16 |
| Event | Citalopram | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| InsomniaGeneral disorders | 1/17 | 2/16 |
| DizzinessNervous system disorders | 2/17 | 0/16 |
| HeadacheNervous system disorders | 0/17 | 1/16 |
| ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders | 1/17 | 0/16 |
| Dry MouthGastrointestinal disorders | 1/17 | 0/16 |
| Ejaculation DisorderReproductive system and breast disorders | 1/17 | 0/16 |
| Age Continuous(years) | Citalopram | Placebo | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 47.33 ± 14.61 | 45.13 ± 13.59 | 46.2 ± 13.9 |
| Sex: Female, Male(Participants) | Citalopram | Placebo | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 8 | 7 | 15 |
| Male | 9 | 9 | 18 |
The record gives a start of Nov 2005, a primary completion of Apr 2011 and a completion of Nov 2011. It does not say whether these dates are actual or estimated.
Results were first posted in Mar 2013, 1 year 11 months after primary completion.
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Studies of the drug tested here: Citalopram