Complex Problem Solving Training in Schizophrenic Patients

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Schizophrenia; Schizoaffective Disorder
• Interventions: Behavioral: Complex Problem Solving Training; Behavioral: Basic Cognitive Training

• Registration Number: NCT00507988
• Lead Sponsor: Heidelberg University

Brief Summary

The primary purpose of the study is to assess whether a planning and problem-solving training is more effective in improving work therapy performance in patients with schizophrenia than traditional training programs addressing basic cognitive functions.

Detailed Description

In patients with schizophrenia, cognitive deficits often lead to an impairment in daily life. This observation has led to the development of cognitive training packages aiming a improving these deficits. However, it is far from clear which level of cognitive functioning provides the best target for cognitive interventions. Traditionally, training has aimed a basic cognitive functions like attention and memory. In the present study we aim at a higher-level of function, namely planning and problem-solving skills, which are trained using the software package Plan-A-Day. The primary hypothesis is that complex problem solving training improved functional capacity more than traditional training programs addressing basic cognitive function.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2007-07-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2007-07-25
• Study First Posted: 2007-07-27
• Study Start: 2007-08
• Primary Completion: 2009-02
• Study Completion: 2009-02
• Status Verified: 2009-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2009-05-14
• Last Update Posted: 2009-05-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 91

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients with schizophrenic or schizoaffective Disorder (DSM IV)
• Remitted positive symptoms (PANSS positive all ≤ 4), clinical stability
• Native German speaker
• Verbal IQ > 80
• Visual acuity normal or corrected to normal

Exclusion Criteria

• Concurrent Axis-I disorder
• Drug abuse during last 2 months
• Neurological or medical conditions potentially affecting cognition

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
A	Complex Problem Solving Training	Complex Problem Solving Training
B	Basic Cognitive Training	Basic Cognitive Training

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Functional Capacity as assessed by Osnabrücker Arbeitsfähigkeitsprofil "learning ability" subscale	3 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Functional Capacity as assessed by the Osnabrücker-Arbeitsfähigkeitsprofil summary score	3 weeks
BADS Zoo Map Score (Neuropsychological Test)	3 weeks
Planungstest (Tower of London) Summary Score (Neuropsychological Test)	3 weeks
Plan-A-Day S Solution Time (Neuropsychological Test)	3 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

SRH Klinikum Karlsbad-Langensteinbach; 🇩🇪 Karlsbad, Germany