Epilepsy is highly prevalent and associated with increased risk for psychiatric disorders. Patients with chronic recurrent seizures are excluded from most pharmacological trials establishing standard treatments in pediatric psychiatry. Finding safe and effective treatments for psychiatric disorders in pediatric patients with epilepsy is of pressing public health importance. The purpose of this Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Development Award (K23) is for the candidate to become an independent clinical researcher in the psychopharmacologic treatment of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents facing epilepsy. The proposal focuses on patients with comorbid ADHD and epilepsy. The project will be conducted at Children's Hospital Boston (CHB), which serves a large population of patients with epilepsy. Joseph Biederman, MD, with expertise in clinical trials in pediatric psychopharmacology will serve as the primary mentor. William R. Beardslee, MD, Chairman of Psychiatry at CHB will serve as the sponsor. Blaise Bourgeois, MD, Chairman of the Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology at CHB is the principal epilepsy consultant. Research plan:
The aims are: 1) To perform a randomized placcbo controlled crossover trial of extended release methylphenidate (Concerta) in pediatric patients with comorbid ADHD and epilepsy; 2) To establish methods of assuring the safety of children with epilepsy in psychopharmacological clinical trials. Career development plan: The training will emphasize skills necessary for conducting randomized controlled clinical trials in youth with epilepsy comorbid with psychiatric disorders and to explore the neurobiological mechanisms underlying their increased risk for psychopathology. Didactic work in intervention research design, statistics, developmental psychopathology, and assessment methodologies for psychopathology and treatment response will complement supervision by the program consultants. The long-term goals of the candidate are to develop and evaluate treatments for children with comorbid psychiatric disorders and epilepsy as well as to investigate neurobiological correlates of the risk and response to treatment of these disorders.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23MH066835-05
Application #
7169903
Study Section
Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes 3 (BBBP)
Program Officer
Wagner, Ann
Project Start
2003-02-01
Project End
2008-07-31
Budget Start
2007-02-01
Budget End
2008-07-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$172,452
Indirect Cost
Name
Children's Hospital Boston
Department
Type
DUNS #
076593722
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Gonzalez-Heydrich, Joseph; Hsin, Olivia; Gumlak, Sarah et al. (2014) Comparing stimulant effects in youth with ADHD symptoms and epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 36:102-7
Gonzalez-Heydrich, Joseph; Hamoda, Hesham M; Luna, Laura et al. (2012) Elevated rates of ADHD in mothers of children with comorbid ADHD and epilepsy. Neuropsychiatry (London) 2:385-391
Gonzalez-Heydrich, Joseph; Whitney, Jane; Waber, Deborah et al. (2010) Adaptive phase I study of OROS methylphenidate treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 18:229-37
Torres, Alcy R; Whitney, Jane; Gonzalez-Heydrich, Joseph (2008) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in pediatric patients with epilepsy: review of pharmacological treatment. Epilepsy Behav 12:217-33
Zuckerman, Marcia L; Vaughan, Brigid L; Whitney, Jane et al. (2007) Tolerability of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in thirty-nine children under age seven: a retrospective chart review. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 17:165-74
Gonzalez-Heydrich, Joseph; Dodds, Alice; Whitney, Jane et al. (2007) Psychiatric disorders and behavioral characteristics of pediatric patients with both epilepsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Epilepsy Behav 10:384-8