Connecticut Mental Health Center
New Haven, Connecticut, 06519, United States
NCT Number: NCT01232790
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the amino acid supplement N-Acetylcysteine versus placebo on working memory and other cognitive functions in persons with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Looking for future studies?
Notify Me18 year–60 year
All sexes
Interventional
Not applicable
New Haven, Connecticut, 06519, United States
Working memory impairment in Schizophrenia is produced by deficiencies of feedback inhibition of glutamate release, due to low cysteine-glutamate antiporter activity. Because of this mechanism, we are interested in whether acute administration of N-Acetylcysteine will improve performance of patients with schizophrenia on a battery of cognitive tasks utilized to test working memory and other cognitive domains, versus placebo. This pilot study will utilize a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover design.
Healthy volunteers accepted: No
Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.
Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
N-acetylcysteine 1200mg bid for 3 days
Placebo
Time frame: Baseline
The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) is an instrument that assesses the aspects of cognition found to be most impaired and most strongly correlated with outcome in patients with schizophrenia.
The BACS composite raw score the total of the raw scores for the 6 subtests of the BACS (Verbal memory, token motor, digit sequencing, verbal fluency, symbol coding and executive functioning). The range, so we could be from 0-435. A high score total score is more favorable and indicates a higher level of cognition.
The BACS requires less than 35 min to complete in patients with schizophrenia, yields a high completion rate in these patients, and has high reliability. The BACS was found to be as sensitive to cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia as a standard battery of tests that required over 2 h to administer. It is the raw sum of the test items and higher scores are favorable.
Time frame: Follow Up (5 days)
The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) is an instrument that assesses the aspects of cognition found to be most impaired and most strongly correlated with outcome in patients with schizophrenia.
The BACS composite raw score the total of the raw scores for the 6 subtests of the BACS (Verbal memory, token motor, digit sequencing, verbal fluency, symbol coding and executive functioning). The range, so we could be from 0-435. A high score total score is more favorable and indicates a higher level of cognition.
The BACS requires less than 35 min to complete in patients with schizophrenia, yields a high completion rate in these patients, and has high reliability. The BACS was found to be as sensitive to cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia as a standard battery of tests that required over 2 h to administer. It is the raw sum of the test items and higher scores are favorable.
Time frame: Change from Baseline at Follow Up (5 days)
The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) is an instrument that assesses the aspects of cognition found to be most impaired and most strongly correlated with outcome in patients with schizophrenia.
The BACS composite raw score the total of the raw scores for the 6 subtests of the BACS (Verbal memory, token motor, digit sequencing, verbal fluency, symbol coding and executive functioning). The range, so we could be from 0-435. A high score total score is more favorable and indicates a higher level of cognition.
The BACS requires less than 35 min to complete in patients with schizophrenia, yields a high completion rate in these patients, and has high reliability. The BACS was found to be as sensitive to cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia as a standard battery of tests that required over 2 h to administer. It is the raw sum of the test items and higher scores are favorable.
Time frame: Baseline 1st Leg of Crossover
The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) is an instrument that assesses the aspects of cognition found to be most impaired and most strongly correlated with outcome in patients with schizophrenia.
The BACS composite raw score the total of the raw scores for the 6 subtests of the BACS (Verbal memory, token motor, digit sequencing, verbal fluency, symbol coding and executive functioning). The range, so we could be from 0-435. A high score total score is more favorable and indicates a higher level of cognition.
The BACS requires less than 35 min to complete in patients with schizophrenia, yields a high completion rate in these patients, and has high reliability. The BACS was found to be as sensitive to cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia as a standard battery of tests that required over 2 h to administer. It is the raw sum of the test items and higher scores are favorable.
Time frame: Follow Up 1st Leg of Crossover (5 Days)
The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) is an instrument that assesses the aspects of cognition found to be most impaired and most strongly correlated with outcome in patients with schizophrenia.
The BACS composite raw score the total of the raw scores for the 6 subtests of the BACS (Verbal memory, token motor, digit sequencing, verbal fluency, symbol coding and executive functioning). The range, so we could be from 0-435. A high score total score is more favorable and indicates a higher level of cognition.
The BACS requires less than 35 min to complete in patients with schizophrenia, yields a high completion rate in these patients, and has high reliability. The BACS was found to be as sensitive to cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia as a standard battery of tests that required over 2 h to administer. It is the raw sum of the test items and higher scores are favorable.
Time frame: Baseline 2nd Leg of Crossover
The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) is an instrument that assesses the aspects of cognition found to be most impaired and most strongly correlated with outcome in patients with schizophrenia.
The BACS composite raw score the total of the raw scores for the 6 subtests of the BACS (Verbal memory, token motor, digit sequencing, verbal fluency, symbol coding and executive functioning). The range, so we could be from 0-435. A high score total score is more favorable and indicates a higher level of cognition.
The BACS requires less than 35 min to complete in patients with schizophrenia, yields a high completion rate in these patients, and has high reliability. The BACS was found to be as sensitive to cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia as a standard battery of tests that required over 2 h to administer. It is the raw sum of the test items and higher scores are favorable.
Time frame: Follow Up 2nd Leg of Crossover (5 Days)
The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) is an instrument that assesses the aspects of cognition found to be most impaired and most strongly correlated with outcome in patients with schizophrenia.
The BACS composite raw score the total of the raw scores for the 6 subtests of the BACS (Verbal memory, token motor, digit sequencing, verbal fluency, symbol coding and executive functioning). The range, so we could be from 0-435. A high score total score is more favorable and indicates a higher level of cognition.
The BACS requires less than 35 min to complete in patients with schizophrenia, yields a high completion rate in these patients, and has high reliability. The BACS was found to be as sensitive to cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia as a standard battery of tests that required over 2 h to administer. It is the raw sum of the test items and higher scores are favorable.
Time frame: Baseline
Letter Number Sequencing (LNS) is a brief, standardized executive function task used to assess verbal working memory performance. The test involves a 24-item Experimental Condition, in which participants are read a series of letters and numbers and asked to recite both back in ascending order, with the numbers first and then the letters. Participants receive one point for each correct answer for a range of 0-24. Higher scores are better.
Time frame: Follow Up (5 days)
Letter Number Sequencing (LNS) is a brief, standardized executive function task used to assess verbal working memory performance. The test involves a 24-item Experimental Condition, in which participants are read a series of letters and numbers and asked to recite both back in ascending order, with the numbers first and then the letters. Participants receive one point for each correct answer for a range of 0-24. Higher scores are better.
Time frame: Change from Baseline at Follow Up (5 days)
Letter Number Sequencing (LNS) is a brief, standardized executive function task used to assess verbal working memory performance. The test involves a 24-item Experimental Condition, in which participants are read a series of letters and numbers and asked to recite both back in ascending order, with the numbers first and then the letters. Participants receive one point for each correct answer for a range of 0-24. Higher scores are better.
Time frame: Baseline 1st Leg of Crossover
Letter Number Sequencing (LNS) is a brief, standardized executive function task used to assess verbal working memory performance. The test involves a 24-item Experimental Condition, in which participants are read a series of letters and numbers and asked to recite both back in ascending order, with the numbers first and then the letters. Participants receive one point for each correct answer for a range of 0-24. Higher scores are better.
Time frame: Follow Up 1st Leg of Crossover (5 Days)
Letter Number Sequencing (LNS) is a brief, standardized executive function task used to assess verbal working memory performance. The test involves a 24-item Experimental Condition, in which participants are read a series of letters and numbers and asked to recite both back in ascending order, with the numbers first and then the letters. Participants receive one point for each correct answer for a range of 0-24. Higher scores are better.
Time frame: Baseline 2nd Leg of Crossover
Letter Number Sequencing (LNS) is a brief, standardized executive function task used to assess verbal working memory performance. The test involves a 24-item Experimental Condition, in which participants are read a series of letters and numbers and asked to recite both back in ascending order, with the numbers first and then the letters. Participants receive one point for each correct answer for a range of 0-24. Higher scores are better.
Time frame: Follow Up 2nd Leg of Crossover (5 Days)
Letter Number Sequencing (LNS) is a brief, standardized executive function task used to assess verbal working memory performance. The test involves a 24-item Experimental Condition, in which participants are read a series of letters and numbers and asked to recite both back in ascending order, with the numbers first and then the letters. Participants receive one point for each correct answer for a range of 0-24. Higher scores are better.
Time frame: Baseline
Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT) is a measure of visuospatial memory. This task includes three trials of six geometric figures printed in a 2 x 3 array on separate pages. The respondent views the stimulus page for 10 seconds and is asked to draw as many of the figures as possible in their correct location on a page in the response booklet. A Delayed Recall Trial is administered after a 25-minute delay. Scoring is based on accuracy of the figure as well as its location on the page. A range of 0-12 per trial is possible(0-36 total). Higher scores are better.
Time frame: Follow Up (5 days)
Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT) is a measure of visuospatial memory. This task includes three trials of six geometric figures printed in a 2 x 3 array on separate pages. The respondent views the stimulus page for 10 seconds and is asked to draw as many of the figures as possible in their correct location on a page in the response booklet. A Delayed Recall Trial is administered after a 25-minute delay. Scoring is based on accuracy of the figure as well as its location on the page. A range of 0-12 per trial is possible(0-36 total). Higher scores are better.
Time frame: Change from Baseline at Follow Up (Baseline - Follow Up)
Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT) is a measure of visuospatial memory. This task includes three trials of six geometric figures printed in a 2 x 3 array on separate pages. The respondent views the stimulus page for 10 seconds and is asked to draw as many of the figures as possible in their correct location on a page in the response booklet. A Delayed Recall Trial is administered after a 25-minute delay. Scoring is based on accuracy of the figure as well as its location on the page. A range of 0-12 per trial is possible(0-36 total). Higher scores are better.
Time frame: Baseline 1st Leg of Crossover
Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT) is a measure of visuospatial memory. This task includes three trials of six geometric figures printed in a 2 x 3 array on separate pages. The respondent views the stimulus page for 10 seconds and is asked to draw as many of the figures as possible in their correct location on a page in the response booklet. A Delayed Recall Trial is administered after a 25-minute delay. Scoring is based on accuracy of the figure as well as its location on the page. A range of 0-12 per trial is possible(0-36 total). Higher scores are better.
Time frame: Follow Up 1st Leg of Crossover (5 Days)
Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT) is a measure of visuospatial memory. This task includes three trials of six geometric figures printed in a 2 x 3 array on separate pages. The respondent views the stimulus page for 10 seconds and is asked to draw as many of the figures as possible in their correct location on a page in the response booklet. A Delayed Recall Trial is administered after a 25-minute delay. Scoring is based on accuracy of the figure as well as its location on the page. A range of 0-12 per trial is possible(0-36 total). Higher scores are better.
Time frame: Baseline 2nd Leg of Crossover
Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT) is a measure of visuospatial memory. This task includes three trials of six geometric figures printed in a 2 x 3 array on separate pages. The respondent views the stimulus page for 10 seconds and is asked to draw as many of the figures as possible in their correct location on a page in the response booklet. A Delayed Recall Trial is administered after a 25-minute delay. Scoring is based on accuracy of the figure as well as its location on the page. A range of 0-12 per trial is possible(0-36 total). Higher scores are better.
Time frame: Follow Up 2nd Leg of Crossover (5 Days)
Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT) is a measure of visuospatial memory. This task includes three trials of six geometric figures printed in a 2 x 3 array on separate pages. The respondent views the stimulus page for 10 seconds and is asked to draw as many of the figures as possible in their correct location on a page in the response booklet. A Delayed Recall Trial is administered after a 25-minute delay. Scoring is based on accuracy of the figure as well as its location on the page. A range of 0-12 per trial is possible(0-36 total). Higher scores are better.
Time frame: Pre Screening
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) utilized before and after treatment. BPRS total score is a total of the 18 item scores with a range of 18-126. It is used to measure schizophrenia symptoms and to assess change in them over time. There are 18 symptom sub scores. Each symptom is rated 1-7 (not present to extremely severe) and then all items are summed for the total score. Higher scores indicate more severe symptoms.
The BPRS is the gold-standard overall measure of schizophrenia symptoms which will be utilized to demonstrate that the intervention does not cause worsening of the illness symptoms apart from the usual fluctuations of the natural course.
Time frame: End of Trial
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) utilized before and after treatment. BPRS total score is a total of the 18 item scores with a range of 18-126. It is used to measure schizophrenia symptoms and to assess change in them over time. There are 18 symptom sub scores. Each symptom is rated 1-7 (not present to extremely severe) and then all items are summed for the total score. Higher scores indicate more severe symptoms.
The BPRS is the gold-standard overall measure of schizophrenia symptoms which will be utilized to demonstrate that the intervention does not cause worsening of the illness symptoms apart from the usual fluctuations of the natural course.
Time frame: Change from PreScreening at End of Trial
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) utilized before and after treatment. BPRS total score is a total of the 18 item scores with a range of 18-126. It is used to measure schizophrenia symptoms and to assess change in them over time. There are 18 symptom sub scores. Each symptom is rated 1-7 (not present to extremely severe) and then all items are summed for the total score. Higher scores indicate more severe symptoms.
The BPRS is the gold-standard overall measure of schizophrenia symptoms which will be utilized to demonstrate that the intervention does not cause worsening of the illness symptoms apart from the usual fluctuations of the natural course.
Yale University
Other
Acronym: NAC
OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.
View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.
Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.
NCT05838573
Cognition Disorders, Cognitive Dysfunction
Changsha, Hunan, China
View Trial DetailsNCT05304767
Mental Disorders, Schizophrenia
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
View Trial DetailsNCT00004571
Mental Disorders, Normal Physiology
Bethesda, Maryland, United States
View Trial DetailsNCT05808244
Mental Disorders, Psychosis
Kowloon, Hong Kong
View Trial Details