Aripiprazole and sensorimotor function in adults who stutter
Dopamine and Sensorimotor Function in Stuttering
We will test whether a single 10 mg dose of aripiprazole versus placebo changes speech sensorimotor processing and improves fluency in adults who stutter.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 1 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, San Francisco Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (San Francisco, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT07215884 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults who stutter will receive a single 10 mg dose of aripiprazole or a placebo and undergo measurements of speech fluency and sensorimotor responses. Eligible participants are native American English speakers aged 18–65 with childhood-onset stuttering and normal hearing; people on dopaminergic drugs or with other neurological/psychiatric conditions are excluded. The study uses behavioral tasks and neurophysiologic measures at the Biomagnetic Imaging Lab to probe auditory feedback processing and speech prediction. The approach aims to determine whether short-term dopamine modulation or auditory feedback manipulations can transiently enhance fluency and related sensorimotor function.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–65 who are native American English speakers with confirmed childhood-onset stuttering, normal hearing, and no other neurological, psychiatric, or dopaminergic medication use are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People with other speech-language-hearing disorders, neurological or psychiatric diagnoses, or who are taking dopaminergic agents or benzodiazepines are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this specific intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to medication-plus-behavior approaches that reduce stuttering severity and improve speech motor control for adults.
How similar studies have performed: Prior small studies of dopamine-modulating antipsychotics have reported some improvements in stuttering, but using aripiprazole for stuttering is relatively novel and not well established.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * native speakers of American English * for adults who stutter, presence of stuttering will be confirmed, with onset before age 6 years * Normal hearing * Ages of 18 to 65 years * healthy adults without hearing-language difficulties Exclusion Criteria: * self-reported speech-language-hearing difficulties other than stuttering * self-reported neurological or psychological problems * other medications (drugs that affect dopaminergic system and/or benzodiazepines)
Where this trial is running
San Francisco, California
- Biomagentic Imaging Lab — San Francisco, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: John Houde, PhD — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Natalie Brunwin, MS
- Email: snl-bil@ucsf.edu
- Phone: 4154766888
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.