Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: NEUROCOM: Cognitive Training for Patients With First Episode Schizophrenia
Brief Summary: The study examines the effect of cognitive training on cognitive functioning and everyday competencies of patients with schizophrenia.

120 patients are expected to be included in this randomized controlled trial running at two sites in Denmark starting January 2007 The effect of a 16-week, manualized program of cognitive training integrated in a comprehensive psychosocial treatment (OPUS) for first-episode schizophrenia patients is compared with the effect of standard treatment (OPUS). A six month follow-up assessment is conducted to investigate a possible long-term learning effect of cognitive training.

Blinded assessments include the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery and a co-primary outcome measure of cognitive improvement: A translated version of the UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA) adjusted to a Danish context.

The cognitive training consists of four modules focusing on the domain of attention, executive functioning, learning and memory. Module 1 and 2 are based on computer-assisted training tasks, and the following modules focus on more practical everyday tasks and calendar training. Cognitive training takes place twice a week and every other week the patient and trainer engage in a dialogue on the patient's cognitive difficulties, motivational goals and his/her progress in competence level.

The use of errorless learning principles, scaffolding and attentional externalisation aims at improving the patients' performance on cognitive and everyday tasks by learning to apply compensation techniques as well as limiting dysfunctional uses of available cognitive ressources (i.e. excessive self-focus, rumination).

The study will provide MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery results from a relatively large Danish sample of first-episode schizophrenia and contribute with valuable normative data on the UPSA.

It is hypothesized that cognitive training integrated in OPUS treatment enhances both cognitive and everyday competence of patients more than OPUS treatment alone. Expectations are that cognitive training will demonstrate a small to moderate effect on cognitive functioning and a moderate effect on everyday functioning as measured with the UPSA. Moreover, patients allocated to cognitive training are expected to show an improvement in self-esteem.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age between 18-35 years,
* First-episode schizophrenia og schizotypal disorder in ICD-10,
* Post-acute phase of illness,
* Sufficient comprehension of Danish,
* Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Rejection of participation,
* Organic disorder,
* Misuse of psychoactive drugs
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, brief psychotic disorder, psychosis not otherwise specified or delusional disorder
* Received EASY service for 2 years following a first-episode psychosis
* Cantonese-speaking Chinese
* Ability to understand the study and to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Organic brain disorder
* Known history of intellectual disability
* Drug-induced psychosis
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* 18-45 years of age
* F2 diagnosis in ICD 10
* Address in Copenhagen, Frederiksberg or Aarhus
* Antipsychotic medication not exceeding 12 weeks
* Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Enrolled patient at Community Psychiatric Clinic (CPC), a large mental health center in urban Seattle, Washington;
* Between 18 and 65 years of age;
* Diagnosis of of methamphetamine, amphetamine(illegal), or cocaine dependence or abuse;
* CPC medical record diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar I or II, or recurrent major depressive disorder
* Stimulant drug use one month before enrollment;
* Ability to understand written and spoken English;
* CPC clinical case manager must affirm the potential participant's ability to provide informed consent and clinical appropriateness (i.e., safety/severity of mental/substance/ physical health) to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any medical/psychiatric condition, or severity of that condition, that, in the opinion of Dr. Ries, the PI, would compromise safe study participation
* Chart defined organic brain disorder or dementia;
* Current participation in a methadone maintenance program;
* Any other circumstances that in the PI's opinion precludes safe study participation.

Answer: A