Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT01973270

Community-Based Cognitive Training in Early Schizophrenia

The purpose of this study is to determine whether cognitive training exercises can improve cognitive functioning in young patients with recent-onset schizophrenia, schizoaffective, schizophreniform, and psychosis NOS who are being treated in community mental health settings. We will investigate the effects of web-based cognitive training exercises delivered on a portable laptop computer. The findings will provide us with valuable information on whether cognitive training can improve the cognition and functioning of young individuals early in the course of schizophrenia.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Schizophrenia Mental Disorders Psychosis Psychotic Disorders Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Prevention and Recovery in Early Psychosis (PREP) Program

San Francisco, California, 94143, United States

About this study

The purpose of this study is to perform a double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) in young patients with recent-onset (RO) schizophrenia to target improvement in cognitive functioning within real-world treatment settings. This multi-site study will be performed in 4 community mental health centers with specialized Early Intervention Services (EIS). We will compare the effects of web-based targeted cognitive training (TCT) vs. web-based general cognitive exercises (GCE), both delivered via portable laptop computers. We will investigate the behavioral and functional changes seen immediately after the intervention as well as at 6-month follow-up, compared to a no-training control group (NTC). This will be the first study to investigate cognitive enhancement for young RO schizophrenia patients in community mental health settings, using scalable interactive neurotechnology, and the first to compare two distinct cognitive training approaches. This study will generate high impact data on the potential for targeted pre-emotion of the downward spiral of in cognitive and functional disability that often characterizes psychotic illness. It will also generate valuable data on the relative effects of two distinct cognitive training approaches in schizophrenia, each derived from a very different theoretical rationale, providing much-needed information on the efficacy of a targeted "distributed neural system" training model derived from systems neuroscience vs. a "general cognitive stimulation" training model derived from neuropsychological rehabilitation approaches.

The aims of this project are based on the current state of early psychosis research, as well as our own experience successfully applying neuroscience-informed cognitive training in schizophrenia. It is now abundantly clear that cognitive/neural system dysfunction represents a significant risk factor for schizophrenia as well as a poor prognostic indicator. Functional outcome in RO schizophrenia is predicted by level of cognitive impairment and baseline cognitive reserve, and recent findings suggest that specialized EIS programs focusing only on symptom reduction and psychosocial support may not robustly improve long-term outcomes- indicating that critical treatment targets are not being addressed at present in early psychosis interventions. Cognitive dysfunction and underlying neural system inefficiency should therefore be one of the primary targets for pre-emptive intervention in early psychosis. In this study, we will determine whether we can achieve this goal using cognitive training delivered via a portable computer, in order to improve functional outcome in young individuals with RO schizophrenia.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, psychosis Not Otherwise Specified (NOS), Unspecified Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder, Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder, Specified, or schizophreniform disorder with onset of first psychotic episode within the last 2 years.
  • Good general physical health
  • Between 18 and 35 years of age
  • Is fluent and proficient in the English language
  • Currently enrolled in PREP/BEAM services
  • Achieved clinical stability (e.g., outpatient status for at least 1 month before study entry)

Exclusion criteria

  • Any neurological disorder
  • If clinically significant substance abuse occurs that is impeding the subject's ability to participate fully during recruitment, assessment, or training, the subject will be dropped from the study.
  • Being treated with benztropine, diphenhydramine, or high doses of clozapine (>500 mg po qd) or olanzapine(to be determined on a case by case basis)

Treatment and study plan

Neuroadaptive cognitive training

Behavioral

TCT exercises consist of three modules: an Auditory Processing Module (40-50 hours of training); a Visual Processing Module (30 hours); a Cognitive Control Module prototype (20 hours). [Based on the results of our current RCT, Posit Science has revised aspects of the training modules in order to further optimize its effectiveness for treatment of schizophrenia. In this study, we will use updated versions of the training software: an Auditory Module (20 hours), and a Social Module (10 hours). Features from the Cognitive Control module prototype have been expanded and incorporated into these new modules.

Primary outcomes

  1. Neurocognition

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Training, 6 month Follow-up

    Neurocognition will be assessed using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery [MCCB]. The MCCB assesses the following domains of neurocognitive functioning: 1) Speed of Processing, 2) Attention/Vigilance, 3) Working Memory, 4) Verbal Learning, 5) Visual Learning, 6) Reasoning and Problem Solving; and 7) Social Cognition. We will also assess Verbal Memory (HVLT delayed recall), Visual Memory (BVMT delayed recall), and administer an additional measure of Reasoning and Problem Solving [BACS Tower of London]. In addition to the MCCB measure of social cognition, we will assess the following constructs: affect recognition, emotional prosody [Penn Prosody Identification, and theory of mind [Faux Pas test.7 hours spread over 3 appointments in a 1-2 week period, 5 hours post-training and an additional 5 hours at a 6-month follow-up.

  2. Functioning

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Training, 6 Month Follow-up

    The Quality of Life Scale-Abbreviated will be our primary outcome measure of functional status. This measure assesses quality of life using subjective questions regarding life satisfaction and objective indicators of social and occupational functioning.

  3. Auditory Processing Speed

    Time frame: Baseline, 10 hours of training

    Early target engagement is the degree to which an individual demonstrates initial performance improvement ("learning") upon exposure to training. Early target engagement will be measured by auditory processing speed during cognitive training exercises.

  4. Reward Sensitivity

    Time frame: Baseline

    The Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS) will be used to assess reward sensitivity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Functional Capacity

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Training, 6 Month Follow-up

    Secondary measures of functional capacity/status will include the following MATRICS-recommended measure: The UCSD Performance Based Skills Assessment [UPSA-Brief].

  2. Social Functioning

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Training, 6 Month Follow-up

    Secondary measures of social functioning will include: The Social Functioning Scale.

  3. Internalized Stigma

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Training, 6 Month Follow-up

    In order to measure internalized stigma, a component of recovery, we will use the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) Scale.

Other outcomes

  1. Feasibility and Acceptability

    Time frame: Post-Training (6 weeks)

    We will measure and compare the feasibility and acceptability of the cognitive training programs integrated in the EIS through 1) attrition rates; 2) time to completion of training; 3) user and clinician ratings of acceptability. At post-training (6 weeks), subjects will complete a Likert-type questionnaire composed of elements of a measure used previously by Brain Plasticity Institute to evaluate acceptability for their cognitive training software, and components of a measure we have used previously to assess acceptability of training in our recent-onset RCT. Items assess user experience and satisfaction with the programs, the web-based administration, and the training schedule. Clinicians and family members will complete a Likert-type questionnaire that assess their experience in supporting the clients to use the program, perceived impact on the clients, and the likelihood of using the program outside of a research study.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Other

Registry information

Acronym: COTES

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
Oct 31, 2013
Registry last updated
Sep 17, 2019

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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.