Promoting Activity and Cognitive Enrichment in Schizophrenia (PACES)

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Schizophrenia

• Registration Number: NCT04143126
• Lead Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

Brief Summary

This project will conduct a confirmatory efficacy trial of two novel psychosocial interventions, Cognitive Enhancement Therapy and Enriched Supportive Therapy, for the treatment of persistent negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

Detailed Description

This project will conduct a confirmatory efficacy trial to examine the efficacy of Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) and Enriched Supportive Therapy (EST) for the treatment of schizophrenia patients with significant and persistent negative symptoms. A total of 90 stabilized schizophrenia outpatients with moderate-to-severe persistent negative symptoms will be randomized to 18 months of CET or EST. Comprehensive data on persistent negative symptoms, social and non-social cognition, and functional outcome will be collected prior to treatment and at frequent 6-month intervals to (1) confirm the efficacy of CET and EST for improving persistent negative symptoms; (2) confirm the impact of cognitive target engagement on reduced negative symptoms; and (3) examine the short-term durability of CET and EST effects on negative symptoms and functioning.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2019-10-01
• Study First Submitted: 2019-10-24
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-10-28
• Study First Posted: 2019-10-29
• Status Verified: 2025-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-07-08
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-11
• Primary Completion: 2026-06-30
• Study Completion: 2026-06-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 90

Inclusion Criteria

Inclusion criteria will be evaluated longitudinally in a 4-week evaluation period. Patients will be included if they are outpatients and:

1. are between 18-60 years of age;
2. have a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder confirmed by the SCID;
3. have a clinical history of persistent negative symptoms lasting at least 3 months as identified from the medical record;
4. have observed persistent negative symptoms at the beginning and end of the 4-week evaluation period;
5. have been stabilized on antipsychotic medication at the beginning and end of the 4-week evaluation period;
6. have stabilized depressive symptoms at the beginning and end of the 4-week evaluation period;
7. have mild or absent extrapyramidal symptoms at the beginning and end of the 4-week evaluation period;
8. have had changes to their primary antipsychotic medication within the previous 3 months;
9. have current IQ > 80; and
10. are able to read (sixth grade level or higher) and speak fluent English. -

Exclusion Criteria

Exclusion criteria are intended to avoid likely treatment confounders and contraindications and include:

1. the presence of organic brain syndrome;
2. comorbid medical disorders producing cognitive impairment (e.g., mild brain injury, previous concussions with loss of consciousness);
3. persistent suicidal or homicidal behavior;
4. significant clinician-estimated medication non-adherence; and
5. SCID-verified substance use disorder.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Persistent Negative Symptoms	Prior to treatment, 6 months, 12, months, 18 months, 21 months and 30 months	Negative symptoms will be assessed using the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS). The CAINS is a structured interview measure of expressive and motivational negative symptoms consisting of 13 items based on a standardized interview with anchor points for each rating. This measure was developed to address the limitations of previous negative symptom measures and designed for use in clinical trials of negative symptom therapeutics. This outcome has two endpoints that will be evaluated in this trial, persistent negative symptoms related to expression (Expression subscale) and persistent negative symptoms related to motivation/pleasure (Motivation/Pleasure subscale). Items are rated on a 0 to 4 scale, with higher scores indicating greater negative symptom severity.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Functioning	Prior to treatment, 6 months, 12, months, 18 months, 21 months and 30 months	A composite index of functional outcomes will be derived from measures of social adjustment commonly used in schizophrenia research. These are clinical interview-based measures of functioning, with some self-report measures, covering vocational, social, family, and other functional outcome domains. Measures will include the Social Adjustment Scale-II, Major Role Adjustment Inventory, the Global Assessment of Functioning, and other field standards of functional outcome in schizophrenia. Because these measures do not share a common Unit of Measure and because of the large number of functional outcome measures used, a composite index will be formed to assess changes in functioning to reduce Type I error from multiple inference testing.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Pittsburgh; 🇺🇸 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States