A Phase 2 interventional study of Milk Thistle and Placebo in Body Dysmorphic Disorder, sponsored by University of Chicago. Withdrawn at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-12-28.
Sponsored by University of Chicago · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
The proposed study will consist of a 9 week double-blind cross-over study trial of milk thistle in 15 people (ages 18-65). The study will be divided into an initial 4 week phase, a one week wash out phase, and a second 4 week phase, with one of the 4 week phases consisting of active treatment with milk thistle, and the other 4 week phase consisting of inactive placebo treatment. Participants will be randomized to receive either milk thistle or placebo during the first 4 week phase on a 1:1 basis. This blinding will be maintained by the IDS pharmacy at the University of Chicago.
The goal of the proposed study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of silymarin (milk thistle) in adults with body dysmorphic disorder. The hypothesis to be tested is that silymarin will be more effective and well tolerated in adults with body dysmorphic disorder compared to placebo. The proposed study will provide needed data on the treatment of a disabling disorder that currently lacks a clearly effective treatment.
The primary aim of this application is to conduct a randomized placebo-controlled pharmacotherapy trial using silymarin (milk thistle) in 15 participants with body dysmorphic disorder. The study will consist of three phases: a 4 week active treatment phase with milk thistle, a 4 week placebo phase, and a one week wash out phase between the active and placebo phases. The subjects will be randomized to either receive active or placebo treatment in the first 4 weeks, and the other during the remaining 4 week phase.
This will be one of few studies assessing the use of pharmacotherapy for the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder in adults. Assessing the efficacy and safety of silymarin (milk thistle), will help inform clinicians about additional treatment options for adults suffering from this disorder.
56 studies on the registry are indexed under Body Dysmorphic Disorders; 11 are open to participants now.
Browse Body Dysmorphic Disorders studies →University of Chicago is the lead sponsor of 924 studies on the registry; 185 are open to participants now.
Of its 103 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 72 (70%) have results posted.
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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:
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.
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
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.
DSM diagnostic criteria
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
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.
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Each subject will have a 4 week treatment phase with milk thistle.
Drug: Milk Thistle
4 week placebo phase before or after milk thistle phase depending on randomization.
Drug: Placebo
Also known as: Silymarin
Also known as: Sugar Pill
Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale Modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD-YBOCS)
The entire study for the subject will last 9 weeks. Every four weeks and after the one week washout period the subject will take the BDD-YBOCS. The change in scores from baseline to after 9 weeks will be assessed. The scale itself assesses severity of body dysmorphic disorder symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline and 9 weeks
Clinical Global Impression- Severity and Improvement (CGI)
The entire study for the subject will last 9 weeks. Every four weeks and after the one week washout period the subject will complete the CGI. The change in scores from baseline to after 9 weeks will be assessed. The scale itself assesses overall disorder severity.
Time frame: Baseline and 9 weeks
Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)
The entire study for the subject will last 9 weeks. Every four weeks and after the one week washout period the subject will complete the SDS. The change in scores from baseline to after 9 weeks will be assessed. The scale itself assesses the level of disability from body dysmorphic disorder (or target disorder)
Time frame: Baseline and 9 weeks
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)
The entire study for the subject will last 9 weeks. Every four weeks and after the one week washout period the subject will complete the HAM-A. The change in scores from baseline to after 9 weeks will be assessed. The scale itself assesses level of anxiety.
Time frame: Baseline and 9 weeks
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
The entire study for the subject will last 9 weeks. Every four weeks and after the one week washout period the subject will complete the HAM-D. The change in scores from baseline to after 9 weeks will be assessed. The scale itself assesses level of depression.
Time frame: Baseline and 9 weeks
Plan to share: No
This study is withdrawn, as verified in Dec 2022. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Studies of the drug tested here: Milk-thistle extract