Perceptual Deficits in Schizophrenia

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Schizophrenia; Schizoaffective Disorder
• Interventions: Behavioral: Sensory Information Processing Training; Behavioral: Active Control Training

• Registration Number: NCT02337439
• Lead Sponsor: VA Connecticut Healthcare System

Brief Summary

In this study, participants with schizophrenia and schizoaffective are given computer exercises to complete. The goals of the study are to determine whether: 1) any of the computer exercises can improve information processing problems in schizophrenia, 2) improvements in information processing are related to other cognitive improvements, and 3) there are changes in brain activity associated with using the computer exercises.

The study will involve clinical interviews, cognitive tests, and frequent computerized cognitive training over the course of 2 months. Some participants will also have electroencephalography, a non-invasive test that measures brain activity, to determine whether there are changes in brain activity with the computer training.

Detailed Description

Schizophrenia is a disabling neurodevelopmental illness, affecting nearly 1% of the population. The disability of schizophrenia is due in large part to the effects of the illness on cognitive faculties. Current medications for schizophrenia do not generally improve cognition, so a major contribution to disability remains undertreated. Computerized cognitive remediation programs, which produce activity-dependent recruitment of neural resources to specifically enhance under-functioning brain systems, have been effective at improving both cognition and community functioning in patients with schizophrenia, but the effects are still modest. Our preliminary work has suggested that our training is associated with improvements in visual memory, though visual memory has been a cognitive area more refractory to cognitive training.

In this study, participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder will be randomized to receive different computer exercises to help determine whether computer exercises can improve memory in schizophrenia, and whether the cognitive training is associated with changes in neural activity.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2014-08
• Study First Submitted: 2015-01-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-01-12
• Study First Posted: 2015-01-13
• Status Verified: 2017-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-11-03
• Last Update Posted: 2017-11-07
• Primary Completion: 2018-01
• Study Completion: 2018-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• English speaking and reading

Exclusion Criteria

• current substance abuse
• visual impairment
• neurological conditions
• current enrollment in another research study

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Sensory Information Processing Training	Sensory Information Processing Training	Computerized training designed to improve sensory processing
Active Control Training	Active Control Training	Commercially available computer exercises that were not designed specifically to improve sensory information processing.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cognitive test performance	up to 6 months	Neuropsychological testing

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Psychiatric symptoms	up to 6 months	Clinical interviews and ratings
Social Functioning	up to 6 months	Clinical rating scales

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Yale University School of Medicine; 🇺🇸 New Haven, Connecticut, United States