Winter 2004
Volume 16, Number 2


THERAPY'S ROAD
Surveying the Latest Neuro-Related Trials


Addiction
Geetha Subramaniam, M.D., and Maxine Stitzer, M.D., with Hopkins' branch of NIDA's clinical trials network are studying effectiveness of buprenorphine-maintained rehabilitation for opioid dependence. They seek subjects 14 to 21 years old to receive either two or 12 weeks of buprenorphine and naloxone along with counseling. The study takes place at Mountain Manor Treatment Center in Baltimore. Participants are periodically assessed up to one year from the initial session.*
Call Cindy Voss at 410-233-1400, ext.192.

Autism
Two Kennedy Krieger studies, led by Rebecca Landa, Ph.D., concern children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Landa is recruiting participants for early detection and early intervention studies. Three groups of children will be included in the early detection study:
  • Children who are 18 months or younger who are late talkers, but who have no family history of autism
  • Baby siblings under 14 months of age having an older sibling with autism
  • Typically developing infants at 6 months of age.
    For the early intervention study, children under age 3 with ASD are sought. Parents interested in learning more about the study may contact Landa's team through email at reach@kennedykrieger.org or by calling the toll free number at 1-877-850-3372.

    Bipolar Disorder/Mania
    Less is known than clinicians would like about effective drug therapies for young people with bipolar disorder or mania. Thus, an NIMH-sponsored study with Hopkins' Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry aims to examine effectiveness of lithium, valproate or risperidone for those conditions in youths age six to 15. Treatment is randomly assigned, depending on medical history, and is given weekly from two to four months.* Call Maureen Masarik at 410-955-8391.

    Bulimia Nervosa
    In a search for biological targets that maintain bulimia nervosa, a Hopkins team including psychiatrist Angela Guarda, M.D., and radiologist James Frost, M.D., is participating in an NIH-sponsored PET scan study of women age 18 to 35. Subjects receive two PET scans, 10 weeks of free outpatient cognitive behavioral therapy and six follow-up sessions over the year study period. The researchers suspect that changes in the brain's internal opioid system underlie the bulimic behavioral cycle of restricting, bingeing and purging.* Call Linda Ryan at 410-955-3863.

    Epilepsy
    A study to evaluate the value of the popular Atkins diet for children who've failed traditional epilepsy drugs has begun at Hopkins. Children age 3 to 18 with seizures at least three times a week and who have failed at least two drugs may join. Those in the study will visit the clinic three times in a six-month period and will receive free instruction and evaluation. Pediatric neurologist Eric Kossoff, M.D., heads the study. Call 410-614-6054.

    Multiple Sclerosis
    Under the auspices of Hopkins' new MS center, a Phase IV trial to investigate combined drug therapy starts in February. The center's recruiting patients age 18 to 55 with relapsing-remitting MS who are currently treated with the immune-modifying drug Avonex. Everyone continues Avonex and will randomly go to groups getting either placebo or methotrexate. Half of each group also receives IV steroids at intervals. Call Karen DeBusk at 410-614-4823.

    Douglas Kerr, M.D., Ph.D., leads a trial using a high dose of a chemotherapy agent that aims to "reboot" the immune system of MS patients with an aggressive relapsing-remitting form of the disease. The Phase I/II study needs patients who either cannot tolerate or who have failed to respond optimally to conventional therapy and who are at high risk of disease progression. The study involves a one-time treatment with the agent and a follow-up of two years. For information, contact Chitra Krishnan at 410-955-3129.

    Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
    Psychiatrist Gerald Nestadt, M.D., is investigating genetic factors that confer susceptibility to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He seeks subjects with at least two family members diagnosed with or showing symptoms of OCD. The study involves a private interview and blood sample-taking. All information is kept confidential.* Call Krista Vermillion at 410-575-7326.

    Sturge-Weber Syndrome
    Patients of all ages with Sturge-Weber syndrome are invited to participate in a trial to discover the usefulness of quantitative EEG in early diagnosis and in management of the disorder. For information, call Anne Comi, M.D., at 410-614-5807.

    *  participants are paid or compensated in some way.