Memantine as treatment for compulsivity in child and adolescent psychiatry: Descriptive findings from an incompleted randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are mental disorders with a considerable overlap in terms of their defining symptoms. The glutamatergic agent memantine appears to be a promising candidate for the treatment of ASD and OCD in children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy and tolerability/safety of memantine in this population. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter add-on trial comprised patients aged 6 to 17; 9 years with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD and/or OCD. Participants were randomized to either memantine or placebo for 10 consecutive weeks, including an up-titration phase. RESULTS: A total of 7 patients were included in the study. N = 4 (57.1%) participants were treated with verum (memantine) and n = 3 (42.9%) received placebo. Patients receiving memantine showed a more pronounced reduction in their CY-BOCS score, as well as greater CGI-Improvement, compared to patients receiving placebo. No serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings, although based on a very small number of patients and therefore insufficient to draw clear conclusions, appear to be in line with the hypothesis that memantine is an effective, tolerable and safe agent for children and adolescents. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT Number: 2014-003080-38, Registered 14 July 2014, https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=2014-003080-38.