Cariprazine for Depressive Episodes in Pediatric Bipolar I Disorder

This study is testing cariprazine to see how well it works and if it's safe for children and teenagers (ages 10 to 17) who have bipolar I disorder and are experiencing a depressive episode. Currently, there are limited treatment options for young people with this condition. The study aims to enroll about 380 participants. Researchers will compare cariprazine to a placebo (an inactive pill) to understand its effects. Success will be measured by tracking any side effects, changes in vital signs (like heart rate and blood pressure), and abnormal lab test results over several weeks. The current recruitment status for this study is unclear.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll about 380 participants. It will compare cariprazine to a placebo, meaning some participants will receive the active drug and others will receive an inactive pill.
What's involved
Participants will be monitored for adverse events and changes in vital signs from the start of the study (Week 0) to Week 10. They will also have clinical laboratory tests from Week 0 to Week 6.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for adverse events and vital signs up to Week 10, and for laboratory tests up to Week 6.

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NCT04777357

A Study to Assess Change in Disease Activity and Adverse Events (AEs) With Cariprazine in the Treatment of Depressive Episodes in Pediatric Participants Participants (10 to 17 Years of Age) With Bipolar I Disorder.

Recruiting
PHASE3Ages 10–17InterventionalTreatment
AbbVie
~380 participants
Updated 2026-07-27 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:CariprazinePlacebo

At a glance

Recruiting sites
32 of 81 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Number of Participants with Adverse Events
Measured over Baseline (Week 0) to Week 10
+8 more outcomes measured
Depression
Bipolar I Disorder
81 sites across 22 states
California16
Texas14
Florida12
Georgia5
Oklahoma5
Russia5
Ohio4
Illinois3
  • ABBVIE INC. · STUDY_DIRECTOR · AbbVie

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Participants with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) primary diagnosis of bipolar I disorder as confirmed by Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL).
Current depressive episode is more than 2 weeks and less than 12 months in duration.
Participant has a lifetime history of at least one manic episode.
Children's Depression Rating Scale - Revised (CDRS-R) score \> = 45 at Visit 1 and Visit 2.
Young-Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score \< = 12 with YMRS Item 1 (elevated mood) score \< = 2 at Visit 1 and Visit 2.
Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scale score of \> = 4 (moderately ill) at Visit 1 and Visit 2.

Exclusion

Participants with DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, brief psychotic disorder, psychotic disorder due to another medical condition, PTSD, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder.
Participant has a history of meeting DSM-5 diagnosis for any substance-related disorder (except caffeine- and tobacco-related) within the 3 months before Screening Visit 1.
History of serotonin syndrome or neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Four or more episodes of a mood disturbance within the 12 months before Visit 1.
DSM-5 diagnosis of intellectual disability (IQ \< 70), autism spectrum disorders, or documented history of chromosomal disorder with developmental impairment.
History of seizures, with the exception of febrile seizures.
Significant head trauma, history of tumor of the CNS, or any other condition that predisposes to seizures.
Participant requires concomitant treatment with moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or with any CYP3A4 inducers.
Participant requires concomitant treatment with any prohibited medication, supplement, or herbal product, including any psychotropic drug or any drug with psychotropic activity or with a potentially psychotropic component.
Use of a depot antipsychotic within 2 cycles of their respective dosing interval prior to Screening Visit 1.
Treatment with clozapine in a dose of \>= 50 mg/d in the past 2 years.
History of or any current ocular disease including, but not limited to, retinal detachment, intraocular surgery, laser treatment, glaucoma, cataracts, or clinically significant ocular trauma (with the exception of refractive errors).
  • Number of Participants with Adverse EventsBaseline (Week 0) to Week 10

    An adverse event (AE) is defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a patient or clinical investigation participant administered a pharmaceutical product which does not necessarily have a casual relationship with this treatment. The investigator assesses the relationship of each event to the use of the study. A serious adverse event (SAE) is an event that results in death, is life threatening, requires or prolongs hospitalization, results in a congenital anomaly, persistent or significant disability/incapacity or is an important medical event, that based on medical judgment, may jeopardize the participant and may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent any of the outcomes listed above. Treatment-emergent adverse events/ treatment emergent serious adverse events (TEAEs/TESAEs) are defined as any event that began or worsened in severity on or after the first dose of the study drug.

  • Abnormal Change from Baseline in Vital SignsBaseline (Week 0) to Week 10

    Change in vital signs like systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be assessed.

  • Number of Participants with Incidence of Abnormal Clinical Laboratory Test ResultsBaseline (Week 0) to Week 6

    Number of participants with incidence of abnormal clinical laboratory test results like hematology will be assessed.

  • Change in Electrocardiogram (ECG)Baseline (Week 0) to Week 6

    12 -lead resting ECGs will be recorded. Parameters include RR interval, PR interval, QT interval, and QRS duration.

  • Change From Baseline in Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS)Baseline (Week 0) to Week 6

    SAS is a 10-item rating scale for assessment of antipsychotic-induced parkinsonism in both clinical practice and research settings. Each item ranges from 0 (normal) to 4 (extreme symptoms). The scale consists of 1 item measuring gait (hypokinesia), 6 items measuring rigidity, and 3 items measuring glabella tap, tremor, and salivation, respectively.

  • Change from Baseline in Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)Baseline (Week 0) to Week 10

    The C-SSRS is a clinician-rated instrument that reports the severity of both suicidal ideation and behavior, with a higher score denoting more severe suicidal ideation and behavior.

  • Change From Baseline in Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS)Baseline (Week 0) to Week 6

    BARS is a 4-item rating scale used to assess drug-induced akathisia. The scale comprises items for rating the observable restless movements that characterize the condition, the subjective awareness of restlessness, and any distress associated with the akathisia (each on a 4-point scale from normal \[0\] to severe \[3\]). In addition, there is a global severity for akathisia rated on a 6-point scale (absent \[0\] to severe akathisia \[5\]).

  • Change From Baseline in Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS)Baseline (Week 0) to Week 6

    AIMS assesses abnormal involuntary movements, such as tardive dyskinesia, associated with antipsychotic drugs; it measures facial, oral, extremities, and trunk movements, as well as the participant's awareness of abnormal movements. The first 10 items are rated on a none (0) to severe (4) scale. There are an additional 2 items on dental status that are answered yes or no.

  • Change in Children's Depression Rating Scale - Revised (CDRS-R) Total ScoreBaseline (Week 0) to Week 6

    The CDRS-R is a 17-item clinician-administered scale specifically developed for the assessment of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. Total scores range from 17 to 113. In general, scores below 20 indicate an absence of depression, scores of 20 to 30 indicate borderline depression, and scores of 40 to 60 indicate moderate depression. The CDRS-R will be administered by a clinician with extensive professional training in mental illness.