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Retrieval Practice and Schizophrenia

Not Applicable
Suspended
Conditions
Schizophrenia
Episodic Memory Deficits
Interventions
Behavioral: Retrieval practice effect using descriptive stories and free-call tests without feedback
Registration Number
NCT02108899
Lead Sponsor
University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
Brief Summary

When people are tested on a previously learned material, they will later remember it better even when compared to a condition where they can re-study it. This phenomenon is called retrieval practice and is supported by an extensive research literature mostly carried out in normal students. This paradigm begins to be used in cognitive remediation programs in patients suffering from memory difficulties.

The objective of this study is to investigate whether retrieval practice is spared in patients with schizophrenia.

If effective, this method could be used in cognitive remediation programs.

Since episodic memory difficulties are supposed to be secondary to deficits in the initiation/elaboration of efficient encoding and retrieval strategies our hypothesis is that retrieval practice is spared in schizophrenia.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
SUSPENDED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50
Inclusion Criteria
  • French is the native language, or acquired before 5 years old
  • People must be able to understand and follow the trial instructions

Specific inclusion criteria (for patients) :

  • Diagnostic of schizophrenia, according to the DSM -5, clinically stable
  • The treatment must remain unchanged during the trial
Exclusion Criteria
  • Severe or acute cerebral disease
  • Other actual psychiatric disorder
  • Use of drugs with high anticholinergic effect
  • Irregular use of benzodiazepines medication, or high dose of benzodiazepin (more than 2 mg of lorazepam per day or equivalent)
  • Inappropriate use of drugs

Specific exclusion criteria (for healthy subjects) :

  • Diagnostic of schizophrenia of a relative up to the third degree

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Healthy subjectsRetrieval practice effect using descriptive stories and free-call tests without feedback-
Patients with schizophreniaRetrieval practice effect using descriptive stories and free-call tests without feedback-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of items properly recalledFinal test : 2 days after the first experimental session

- The aim is to investigate the retrieval practice effect using descriptive stories and free-recall tests without feedback in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls.

In the first phase (encoding), people study 2 short prose passages covering general scientific topics.

In the second phase (initial test), they recall one text ("test" condition) or restudy the other one ("re-study" condition).

In the third phase (final test) which takes place 2 days later, they recall both texts.

- We will compare in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls final performance recall (number of items properly recalled) for information studied and recalled ("test" condition) to those for information studied and then re-studied ("re-study" condition).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Difference between final performance recall and memory span scoreFinal test : 2 days after the first experimental session

In each group (patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls) :

Difference between the final performance recall (see primary outcome measure) in "test" condition and "re-study" condition AND memory span score.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Service de psychiatrie - Hôpital Civil - CHRU Strasbourg

🇫🇷

Strasbourg, France

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