RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Blood Concentration in Lorazepam and Treatment in Adult Catatonia

This research is about a condition called catatonia, which can make people freeze or move in unusual ways. The main treatment for catatonia is a medicine called lorazepam. Most people get better with lorazepam, but some don't. This study wants to find out why. We're looking at whether the amount of lorazepam in a person's blood, especially after a few days of treatment, is linked to how well they recover. We're also checking if a person's genes play a role, as some genes can change how the body uses lorazepam. Understanding this could help doctors know earlier if lorazepam will work for someone and decide on the best treatment plan quickly.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University Hospital, Lille

Enrolment target

100

Start

01 Jan 2020

Estimated completion

01 Jan 2027

Catatonia

What is this study about?

Catatonia is a serious condition where people might have unusual movements, or they might become very still and unresponsive. It can happen with different mental health problems or even some physical illnesses. When someone has catatonia, doctors often try a medicine called lorazepam first. It's quite effective, helping about 7 or 8 out of every 10 people get better. Doctors carefully adjust the dose of lorazepam over a few days until it starts to work. If lorazepam doesn't help, other treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) might be considered.

Interestingly, everyone’s body handles medicines a bit differently, and this can be because of our genes. Some people have genes that might make their bodies break down lorazepam faster, meaning less of the medicine stays in their blood. This study is trying to understand if there's a connection between how much lorazepam is in a person's blood after a few days of treatment, their genetic makeup, and whether the treatment helps their catatonia.

The main idea behind this research is that people who don't get better with lorazepam might have lower amounts of the medicine in their blood because their genes cause them to break it down quickly. By looking into this, the researchers hope to find clues that could help doctors figure out sooner which patients might not respond well to lorazepam. This could lead to quicker decisions about giving them a different treatment that might work better for them.

Key takeaways

This study explores how lorazepam works for catatonia.
It investigates if blood levels of lorazepam and a person's genes affect treatment success.
The goal is to help doctors predict who will respond to lorazepam earlier.
Participants must have catatonia and be at least 18 years old.
The study could lead to more personalised catatonia treatment in the future.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for adults who have been diagnosed with catatonia. You must be at least 18 years old to take part.

There are a few reasons why someone might not be able to join. If you are pregnant or if you (or your legal guardian) are not willing to participate in the study, unfortunately, you won't be able to take part.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Have I been diagnosed with catatonia?
Am I 18 years old or older?
Am I willing to participate in the study?
Am I not pregnant?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

The detailed steps of taking part in this study are not fully described here. However, generally, if you join a study like this, it would likely involve regular check-ups with doctors, possibly providing blood samples so researchers can measure the amount of lorazepam in your system, and careful monitoring of your symptoms. The study will continue for a period, which is not specified, but will involve doctors observing how you respond to the lorazepam treatment.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in any study has potential benefits and risks. A potential benefit of this study is helping researchers understand how best to treat catatonia, which could lead to better care for future patients. For you, it means your treatment with lorazepam will be closely monitored. As for risks, these are not fully detailed, but generally, medical studies involve assessments that might be slightly uncomfortable, like blood tests. You will always have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Hôpital Fontan, CHU lille
Verified postcode
Lille, France· Recruiting

Common questions

What is catatonia?

Catatonia is a condition where people experience unusual movements, or become very still and unresponsive, and can be part of different mental or physical illnesses.

What is lorazepam?

Lorazepam is a medicine often used as the first treatment for catatonia. It helps many people recover.

Why is this study important?

This study aims to understand why lorazepam works for some people with catatonia but not others, which could help doctors choose the best treatment sooner.

Will I have to do anything special if I join?

You would likely have your lorazepam treatment closely watched, and might need blood tests to check the medicine levels in your body.

Can I leave the study if I change my mind?

Yes, you can choose to leave the study at any time without it affecting your medical care.

How to find out more

Ali AMAD, MD

ali.amad@chru-lille.fr 03 20 44 44 60 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.